§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of fines levied by magistrates courts in Worcestershire were collected in the latest 12 month period for which figures are available. [28900]
974W
§ Mr. WillsMagistrates Courts Committees have responsibility for the collection of a range of debts imposed through the courts, including not only fines but also fees, compensation, confiscation orders, legal aid contributions and some maintenance orders. It is not possible to separate out just the fines from the total.
It is not possible to provide the information requested in respect of Worcestershire only, as magistrates courts in Worcestershire are administered by West Mercia Magistrates Court Committee, which also covers Herefordshire and Shropshire and the information from these areas cannot be identified separately.
In addition to impositions by magistrates in West Mercia Magistrates Courts during the period October 2000 to September 2001, further amounts were imposed by other agencies, including the Crown court and magistrates in other areas. Some amounts imposed in West Mercia were transferred to other areas for collection.
The total amount of money collected by the courts in West Mercia included some amounts imposed in earlier periods, such as those being paid by instalment, and some amounts imposed in other areas, and therefore does not relate directly to an amount imposed in West Mercia.
The proportion of money collected by West Mercia Magistrates Courts Committee during the period October 2000 to September 2001 as a percentage of new impositions was 67 per cent.