§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the unit fine system introduced under the Criminal Justice Act 1991; if he will list the drawbacks or unfair effects that have been indentified by practical experience of the operation of the Act; and what steps he intends to take to ensure that the system operates with increased fairness and efficiency.
§ Mr. JackThe unit fine scheme was successfully trailed before its full scale introduction in all magistrates' courts on 1 October 1992. Full details of the pilot project are given in Home Office Research Paper 59 in 1990. It is too early to make any meaningful assessment of its effectiveness nationally, but the scheme is being closely monitored.