§ Mr. ForthTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) what his estimate is of the revenue cost as a result of(a) unpaid and (b) uncollected fines in the last five years; [147966]
(2) what proportion of fines were not (a) paid and (b) collected in the last five years. [147967]
§ Mr. LeslieInformation on fines imposed and collected is provided by the 42 Magistrates Courts Committees (MCCs) in England and Wales. A new data collection procedure was implemented in 1999–2000. Comparable figures are therefore only available from that period, and are set out in the table.
In addition, last year, I agreed to a revision of the enforcement payment rate target so that it focuses clearly on fines.
The April to November row of the table sets out year-to-date performance on the basis of the new formula which excludes other financial penalties such as confiscation orders.
England and Wales Period Total imposed Total paid Payment rate (%)1 Total arrears outstanding2 1999–2000 431,111,249 267,326,873 62 227,361,076 2000–01 384,958,059 242,455,701 63 225,908,941 2001–02 387,020,885 228,122,287 59 246,481,521 2002–03 425,863,782 236,320,110 55 276,870,306 April-November 2003 247.135,001 139,353,460 72 3— 1 Payment rate percentage for periods 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, and 2002–03 was based on amount paid divided by new amount owed. For the period April-November 2003 as a result of the Minister's statement on 25 June 2003 the payment rate has changed to: amount paid divided by new amount owed less amount judicially cancelled. Therefore a direct comparison can not be made between the payment rate for April-November 2003 and previous years. 2 Total arrears outstanding includes arrears outstanding from previous years 3 Total arrears outstanding for the Year to Date ending November 2003 is not currently available
§ Mr. SymsTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what proportion of fines levied by the courts were collected in full in the last year for which figures are available. [148335]
§ Mr. LeslieInformation on fines imposed and collected is provided by the 42 Magistrates Courts Committees (MCCs) in England and Wales. Figures for the financial year 2002–03 are set out in the table.
In addition, last year, I agreed to a revision of the enforcement payment rate target so that it focuses clearly on fines.
The April to November row of the table sets out year-to-date performance on the basis of the new formula which excludes other financial penalties such as confiscation orders.
1049W
England and Wales Period Total imposed Total paid Payment rate %1 Total arrears outstanding2 2002–03 425,863,782 236,320,110 55 276,870,306 April-November 2003 247,135,001 139,353,460 72 3— 1 Payment rate percentage for 2002–03 is based on amount paid divided by new amount owed. For the period April-November 2003 as a result of the Minister's statement on 25 June 2003 the payment rate has changed to: amount paid divided by new amount owed less amount judicial cancelled. Therefore a direct comparison can not be made between the payment rate for April-November 2003 and previous years. 2 Total arrears outstanding includes arrears outstanding from previous years 3 Total arrears outstanding for the Year to Date ending November 2003 is not currently available