§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women have received custodial sentences for non-payment of rates for each of the last five years.
§ Mr. John PattenInformation on the number of persons received on committal by magistrates' courts in default of payment of rates in each of the last 11 years is published annually in "Prison Statistics England and Wales" (table 6.2 of the latest volume, for 1986, Cm. 210) copies of which are in the Library. The following table gives corresponding details of those received in 1982 to 1986 following committal by county courts.
Persons received into prison department establishments in England and Wales on committal by county courts for non-payment of rates: by sex, 1982–86.
Number of persons1 Sex 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 Males 5 11 26 9 17 Females 1 — 1 1 — 1 Based on information recorded centrally which is approximate. Checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost.