HL Deb 19 February 1990 vol 516 cc132-3WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many fine defaulters were admitted to prison in each of the last three years; what was the average amount of fine unpaid and what was the average length of the prison sentence, in each year.

Viscount Ullswater

The readily available information on the numbers of male and female defaulters received into Prison Service establishments in each of the years 1986 to 1988 and the periods imposed in published is Table 7.4 ofPrison Statistics England and Wales 1988 (Cmnd. 825), a copy of which is in the Library. The average period imposed was between three and four weeks. Data for 1989 are not yet available.

The amount of fine outstanding is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.