§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the court procedures used in(a) Scotland and (b) England for the recovery of fines as a civil debt. [1978]
§ Mr. MacleanA fine imposed by a court is not a civil debt. In England and Wales, magistrates' courts have a wide range of powers to enforce payment of fines and other financial penalties. The Lord Chancellor has established a working group to identify ways of improving the effectiveness of these powers. Court procedures relating to fine enforcement in Scotland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.