§ Mr. Amessasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the total cost of enforcing parking regulations in Greater London and the rest of Great Britain for the last five years;
(2) what was the total amount received through lines for parking offences in Greater London and in the rest of Great Britain for each of the last five years.
§ Mr. HurdInformation on the total cost of enforcing parking regulations could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The cost of the Metropolitan police traffic warden service which is mainly, but not exclusively, concerned with the enforcement of parking regulations in the Metropolitan police district is as follows:
Cost to public funds of the metropolitan police traffic warden service Financial year *Costs £ 1978–79 5,377,691 1979–80 5,950,468 1980–81 6,967,130 1981–82 8,867,176 1982–83 10,194,428 * Includes pay, allowances, clothing, training and advertising only. The cost of transport, accommodation and administration are not maintained separately for the traffic warden service. Information is not held centrally about revenue from fines imposed by courts for traffic offences, as distinct from other offences, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the sums collected by the fixed penalty office in respect of fixed penalties issued by the Metropolitan police—which do not consititute fines —are as follows:
Sums collected by the fixed penalty office in relation to fixed penalties issued by the metropolitan police Calendar year Sums collected 1978 5,060,000 1979 5,019,000 1980 *7,211,000 1981 7,216,000 1982 †l3,052,000 1983 13,829,000 * This figure contains sums from the previous year which were held over because of industrial action. † The level of fixed penalties was increased from £6 to £10 in March 1982.