HC Deb 11 June 1973 vol 857 cc250-1W
Mr. Dell

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has undertaken or commissioned into the circumstances and means of persons sentenced to imprisonment in default of payment of a fine.

Mr. Carlisle

The Home Office financed a study of fine defaulters received into Birmingham prison in 1966, which included an analysis of their weekly incomes. Details of the analysis are given below.

WEEKLY INCOME AT TIME OF CRIME
Men convicted of
Amount Drunkenness Other Offences Total
£
0 4 6 10
1–5 9 5 14
6–10 4 5 9
11–15 7 12 19
16–20 2 11 13
21–25 0 4 4
26 and over 0 1 1
26 44 70
Not known 18 21 39

Mr Dell

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has available the 1972 figures for receptions into prison of men and women in default of payment of a fine.

Mr. Carlisle

The provisional figures are 10,394 men and 490 women in England and Wales.

Mr. Dell

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent information he has regarding the circumstances and means of persons committed to prison in default of payment of a fine; what sums of money are owed; and, in relation to the length of sentence imposed on them, how long these prisoners actually spent in prison.

Mr. Carlisle

I regret that information to answer the first two parts of this Question is not available. Information about the time spent in custody by those committed in default of payment of fines is being analysed and my noble Friend the Minister of State will write to the right hon. Member.