§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that there are £20.5 million of imposed fines not paid in 1976, why he is unable to ascertain how much of this amount is time-expired; and whether he 546W will take action to obtain this information in the future.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI am unable to give this information because it is not included in the information supplied to me quarterly by justices' clerks. It could not be obtained without considerable extra work being imposed on justices' clerks' offices, and I do not consider the extra expenditure and diversion of manpower resources involved would be justified by any benefits which would be derived from its collection.