HC Deb 20 March 1979 vol 964 cc513-4W
Mr. Brittan

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on how many occasions in each of the last three years magistrates have awarded compensation against parents in respect of the damage caused by their children of (a) £100 in the case of children under the age of 14 years and (b) £400 in respect of children over the age of 14 years;

(2) on how many occasions in each of the last three years magistrates' courts have awarded compensation against parents for damage caused by their children;

(3) what was the average level of compensation awarded by magistrates in each of the last three years when they exercised their powers of awarding compensation against parents in respect of the damage caused by their children.

Mr. John

The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Brittan

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to introduce legislation to increase the maximum amount of compensation that can be awarded against parents in respect of damage caused by their children.

Mr. John

Section 60 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 increased the maximum amount of compensation which may be ordered by a magistrates' court to be paid by either an adult or a juvenile in respect of a single conviction from £400 to £1,000. We see no need to further increase this maximum.