§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average prison sentence imposed for defaulting on a fine; what is the average period actually spent in prison by such a defaulter; and what is the average cost of such a person's imprisonment.
§ Mr. Peter LloydResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
482WLetter from Mr. D. Lewis to Mr. William Ross, dated 18 January 1994:
Fine Defaulters
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking about the average prison sentence imposed for defaulting on a fine; the average period actually spent in prison by such a defaulter; and the average cost of such a person's imprisonment.
The latest available information is for 1992 when the average length of sentence imposed for fine default in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales was 22 days. The average period served was 7.5 days. Information relating to the average cost of imprisonment specifically for fine defaulters is not available. The average net operating cost for prisoners in local prisons and remand centres in 1992/93, however, was £526 per week.