§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases related to non-payment of the poll tax have been dealt with by each magistrates court in Wales during 1990; and what was the average amount of time allocated to cases of non-payment of the poll tax by each magistrates court.
§ Mr. John PattenThe figures for the number of summonses and liability orders issued and the amount of time devoted to the enforcement of the community charge by magistrates courts in Wales during 1990 are set out in the table:
Community Charge enforcement in Wales in 1990 Summonses Liability orders Sitting hours Hawarden 48 3 1 Rhuddlan — — — Wrexham Maelor 5,840 3,665 20.5 Llanelli 2,077 1,145 34 Gogledd Ceredigion 2,978 2,242 62 Carmarthen South 5,367 3,412 21 Cleddau 4,846 3,869 55 Bedwellty 500 388 5 East Gwent 6,918 596 25 Newport 5,301 3,214 15 Conwy & Llandudno 5,911 3,951 27 North Anglesey 2,053 1,307 13 Penllyn — — — Caernarfon & Gwyrfai 3,559 1,082 8 Lower Rhymney Valley 5,765 4,441 24 Merthyr Tydfil1 — — — Miskin 15,990 11,988 29 Newcastle & Ogmore 15,815 12,662 48 1 Figures for Merthyr Tydfil based on first return: 1 April-30 September 1990
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money is currently allocated to magistrates courts specifically to assist with cases related to the poll tax; and whether he has any plans to increase resources to deal with the current situation.
§ Mr. John PattenSpecific grant is provided to support expenditure on the workload of the magistrates courts as 495W a whole. The Government's proposals for increased grant support were set out in the Home Office annual report 1991 (Cm 1509), but we continue to keep the community charge enforcement position under review.