Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is aware that a person convicted by a magistrates' court in Northern Ireland is liable to be imprisoned for a longer period in default of payment of a fine than a person convicted by a magistrates' court in England; if he will take steps to have the position equalised in order to help to reduce the prison population in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe maximum penalties for failure to pay a fine are at present higher in Northern Ireland than in England and proposals to bring Northern Irish law on this matter into line with that in England will be put forward soon.