§ Mr. LepperTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the final report on the Norfolk and Greater Manchester pilot schemes in community penalties for fine defaulters and persistent petty offending; and what proposals he has to extend these schemes to other parts of the country. [124683]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 provides courts with additional sentencing options for dealing with fine defaulters, persistent petty offenders and others. The provisions were piloted in Norfolk and Greater Manchester and the final report evaluating the trials was published as a Home Office Occasional Paper on 29 February this year. A decision will be taken in due course on whether to bring these measures into effect throughout England and Wales.