§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women served terms of imprisonment in the last three years for which records are available for non-payment of fines; how many sentences were for non-payment of television licence fines; what is the average term served for such non-payment; and what measures alternative to prison he is considering. [19877]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter Richard Tilt to Mr. David Nicholson, dated 13 March 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking, how many (a) men and (b) women served terms of imprisonment in the last three years for which records are available for non-payment of fines; how many sentences were for non-payment for television licences; what is the average term served for such non-payment; and what measures alternative to prison he is considering.
Information on the number of fine defaulters received into Prison Service establishments in England and Wales for the years 1993 and 1994, analysed by offence group is published in "Prison statistics, England and Wales" (Tables 7.1 and 7.3 of the 1994 edition. Cm 3087), a copy of which is available in the Library. Estimates are given of time served in custody.
Provisional information for 1995 shows that 19,341 male and 1,401 female fine defaulters were received in to Prison Service establishments in England and Wales. Of these, 508 males and 241 females were received for defaulting on a fine after conviction for using a television without a licence. The average time served by fine defaulters is about one week.
Courts may not imprison a fine defaulter unless they have used or considered all other methods of enforcing the fine. These include deductions from benefit or attachment of earnings, or a money payments supervision order. They must also be satisfied that the failure to pay the fine is the result of wilful refusal or culpable neglect.
The Government has set up a Working Group including representatives from the Magistrates' Association and the Justices' Clerks' Society, to examine urgently what improvements can be made to the enforcement of fines and other financial penalties. The Working Group will issue best practice guidance to courts within the next few months which will detail improvements which can be implemented immediately by the courts. The Government will also consider whether more wide-ranging changes are needed, which may require legislation.