HC Deb 13 April 1999 vol 329 cc204-5W
Sir Robert Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many(a) men and (b) women received prison sentences for fine default in each of the last five years; what was the average length of sentence; what was the average amount of fine which was outstanding; what was the average cost of imprisonment and other cost to the public; and if he will make a statement. [79930]

Mr. McLeish

The information which is available on the number of(a) men and (b) women receiving prison sentences for fine default by length of sentence and amount of fine outstanding is provided in the tables. (Data are not meanwhile available for 1998).

Fine default receptions to penal establishments by sex and length of sentence, 1993–97
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
Length of sentence Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female
Total 8,878 738 8,174 701 6,808 701 8,332 667 9,983 737
Less than 7 days 1,151 102 1,400 152 1,003 150 1,113 83 1,197 88
7 days 3,515 353 3,466 368 2,805 341 3,638 348 4,511 383
8–13 days 797 48 864 47 807 61 976 67 1,197 58
14 days 1,516 126 1,567 98 1,481 115 1,872 131 2,238 161
15–29 days 995 45 593 26 550 25 596 32 676 38
30 days/1 month 592 54 90 2 25 2 12 14 2
31–59 days 198 6 150 5 106 5 97 6 125 7
60 days/2 months 64 4 11 1 2 6 4
Over 60 days 50 33 2 29 2 22 21

Fine default receptions to penal establishments by sex and fine outstanding, 1993–97
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
Fine outstanding Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female
Total 8,878 738 8,174 701 6,808 701 8,332 667 9,983 737
Less than £50 633 63 476 70 366 43 391 22 383 35
£50-less than £100 1,835 171 1,627 190 1,209 193 1,336 129 1,636 118
£100-less than £200 3,017 292 2,682 249 2,057 253 2,564 268 3,145 286
£200-less than £500 2,778 201 2,748 182 2,546 196 3,267 216 3,919 260
£500-less than £1,000 512 10 519 6 535 12 643 30 772 36
£31,000-less than £2,500 94 1 102 3 81 4 107 2 116 2
£2,500-less than £5,000 6 15 1 12 10 9
£5,000 or more 3 5 2 14 3

Average cost per prisoner place1
£
1993–94 26,006
1994–95 26,479
1995–96 25,786
1996–97 26,744
1997–98 26,170
1Calculated on a financial year (to end March) basis.