§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been collected by the courts in fines for the years 1974, 1975 and 1976, respectively.
§ Mr. JohnI refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Chislehurst (Mr. Sims) on 27th October.—[Vol. 917, c. 213.]
§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much in fines has been imposed on young offenders under the age of 17 years for the years 1974, 1975 and 1976.
§ Mr. JohnI regret that the information is not available. The number of persons under the age of 17 who were fined by the courts in England and Wales was 56,850 in 1974 and 56,566 in 1975.
§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much is outstanding in unpaid fines for the years 1974, 1975 and 1976; and what steps he proposes to take to see that these fines are paid.
§ Mr. JohnOutside the inner London area—for which figures are not available—the amount of fines outstanding in England and Wales on 31st March 1976 was £17,818,896. This figure includes fines not yet due for payment because the time for payment had not expired. The corresponding figures at 31st March in the two previous years were £12,800,148 and £10,436,914.
16W(2) what percentage of sentences of imprisonment were imposed for indictable firearm offences in 1974 and in 1975.
§ Dr. SummerskillInformation for 1974 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The figures for 1975 relating to indictable offences follow:
The enforcement of fines is a matter for the courts, which have several methods, including the threat of imprisonment and distress upon goods, available to them.