HC Deb 26 July 1984 vol 64 c770W
Mr. Amess

asked 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. Hurd

Information 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.

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