§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give details to show to what extent, out of the £5½million outstanding fines, time for payment had not expired, at any stated period of time; and what action he has taken or intends taking to ensure that the outstanding fines for which time for payment has expired are enforced.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available and could not be obtained without placing an unjustifiable additional burden on the staffs of justices' clerks' offices. Advice has been given to justices' clerks on means of improving their fine enforcement machinery, and the position is being kept under review.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he will not introduce the necessary legislation to enable the courts to impose an automatic prison sentence where a fine 230W had not been paid within six months of imposition, unless the person so fined has made an application to, and obtained from, the court an extended period of payment.
§ Mr. CarlisleI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a similar Question on 28th October.—[Vol. 823, c.411.]