§ 29. Mr. LeighTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress has been made in(a) improving the payment rate for financial penalties imposed by the courts and (b) implementing the recommendations made by the Committee of Public Accounts in its 68th Report, Session 2001–02, on the collection of fines and other financial penalties in the criminal justice systems. [134525]
§ Mr. LeslieSustained improvement in the fine payment rate is a key priority, and to deliver that my Department has established a wide-ranging programme of change to implement my 7-point action plan and to address the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee. Furthermore I have now set a revised target for 2003–04 which gives a clearer focus to those involved in enforcement.