HC Deb 09 February 2004 vol 417 cc1333-4W
33. Mr. Ben Chapman

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the collection of fines imposed by magistrates' courts. [153665]

Mr. Leslie

Following the action plan I announced last June to improve fine enforcement performance, clear progress has been made and MCCs are on track to hit the 75 per cent. payment rate target set for this year.

Norman Baker

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what percentage of fines handed down by courts in East Sussex were collected in the last year for which figures are available. [153480]

Mr. Leslie

Information on fines imposed and collected is provided by the 42 magistrates courts committees (MCCs) in England and Wales. Separate data of fines handed down by courts in East Sussex are not available.

As set out in the report "Magistrates' Courts Business Returns, Annual Report 2002–2003" published on 25 June 2003, Sussex Magistrates Courts Committee's payment rate was 62 per cent.—£3,958,078 was collected from a total of £6,402,558 for enforcement in Sussex.