§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, 419W since the answer of the Minister of State on 18th March 1976, Official Report column 613, any further progress has been made in obtaining information as to the number of acquitted defendants in criminal proceedings who were awarded costs.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesNo. The production of statistics would be costly because figures on the award of costs would have to be related to decisions on legal aid, since an award of legal aid without a contribution order is tantamount to an award of costs.
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many defendants were sent to prison in each of the last three years for non-payment of prosecution costs by (a) the Crown Court and (b) the magistrates' courts.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI am aware of only two people having been imprisoned in
FINES IMPOSED FOR OFFENCES OF EXCEEDING A ROAD SPEED LIMIT, WHEN THAT WAS THE PRINCIPAL OFFENCE, 1976 Per cent. fined Number of persons fined (= 100 per cent.) Up to £10 Over £10 and up to £20 Over £20 and up to £30 Over £30 Average amount of fine Bow Street magistrates' court … 268 47 30 20 3 £15.7 All magistrates' courts in England and Wales* … … … 330,617 11 56 24 8 £20.1 * Excluding juvenile courts.