Fine Collection (Hansard, 10 May 2004)

§ Mr. Hoyle
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the collection of fines imposed by magistrates' courts in(a) Chorley, (b) Leyland, (c) Preston, (d) Blackburn and (e) West Lancashire. [172067]

§ Mr. Leslie
Data on the collection of fines is collected at Magistrates' Court Committee (MCC) level. I am therefore only able to provide data for Lancashire MCC as a whole. There has been a steady improvement in the

£

Name of Initiative Funding 2001 Funding 2002 Funding 2003

Establishment of a mental Incapacity Consultative Forum involving a wide range of stakeholders including organisations representing older people. — 5,000 5,000

Review and improvement of the procedures for creating Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs) to better enable people to plan for the future by delegating decision making about financial affairs to relatives, friends or professionals in the event of loss of mental capacity. — No funding involved as the professionals involved in the working group did so on a voluntary basis. No funding involved as the professionals involved in the working group did so on a voluntary basis.

Research project—The role of the Public Guardianship Office in safeguarding vulnerable adults against financial abuse (Funded by the Public Guardianship Office) — — 60,000

Publication of the Draft Mental Incapacity Bill — — Ongoing

Making Decisions Booklet—Planning for future incapacity — — 10,000 approx.

116W
fine collection performance of Lancashire MCC over the last year. The payment rate stood at 90 per cent. in the last quarter of the 2003–04 financial year, against the national payment rate of 76 per cent. for the same period.

§ Ms Dari Taylor
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the collection of fines imposed by magistrates' courts in Stockton South. [171463]

§ Mr. Leslie
Data or the collection of fines is collected at Magistrates' Court Committee (MCC) level. I am therefore only able to provide data for Cleveland MCC as a whole. There has been a steady improvement in the fine collection performance of the Cleveland MCC over the last year. The 2003–04 payment rate stands at 91 per cent. at the end of March 2004 against the national payment rate of 76 per cent. in the last quarter of the 2003–04 financial year.

£
Name of Initiative	Funding 2001	Funding 2002	Funding 2003
Establishment of a mental Incapacity Consultative Forum involving a wide range of stakeholders including organisations representing older people.	—	5,000	5,000
Review and improvement of the procedures for creating Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs) to better enable people to plan for the future by delegating decision making about financial affairs to relatives, friends or professionals in the event of loss of mental capacity.	—	No funding involved as the professionals involved in the working group did so on a voluntary basis.	No funding involved as the professionals involved in the working group did so on a voluntary basis.
Research project—The role of the Public Guardianship Office in safeguarding vulnerable adults against financial abuse (Funded by the Public Guardianship Office)	—	—	60,000
Publication of the Draft Mental Incapacity Bill	—	—	Ongoing
Making Decisions Booklet—Planning for future incapacity	—	—	10,000 approx.