§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current position in England and Wales, and the inner London magistrates' courts area, with regard to unpaid (a) fines, (b) costs, (c) restitution orders, and (d) maintenance arrears; what is the comparison with each of the previous five years; and what is his best estimate of the costs to the taxpayer for the recovery of these dues.
§ Mr. BrittanThe provisional total amount of sums reported by magistrates' courts in England and Wales—excluding inner London—as payable to the Secretary of State and outstanding at 30 June 1980 was £30,533,000. Comparable figures at 30 June in each of the previous five years were:
1979 £25,463,759 1978 £22,703,533 1977 £21,115,497 1976 £17,202,380 1975 £13,688,138 These figures include fines imposed but not yet due for payment. The detailed information requested is not available. The costs of enforcing court orders are not distinguishable from other costs of the magistrates' courts and the police.