§ Siobhain McDonaghTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average fine levied on those found guilty of selling cigarettes to children aged under 16 years in 1999–2000. [148854]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe available information has been taken from the Home Office's Court Proceedings Database. Ninety persons were fined after being found guilty of selling tobacco based products (including cigarettes) under section 7 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, as amended by Section 1 of the 613W Children (Protection From Tobacco) Act 1991, to children aged under 16 years in 1999. The average fine levied was £237.
Two persons were fined after being found guilty under section 3 of the Children (Protection From Tobacco) Act 1991 for selling unpackaged cigarettes to children under 16 in 1999. The average fine was £200.