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C. "
REGIS..
13 MAY 1975
HKIC18/28.
Coned to bel dec
A
13/6
497
Written Answers
8 MAY 1975
Mr. Alexander W. Lyon: The amount of unpaid fines outstanding on 31st December 1974 in England and Wales, excluding inner London, was £11,883,276. This figure includes fines in respect of which the time allowed for payment has not expired, and some unpaid fines car- ried forward from earlier quarters.
The enforcement of fines is a matter for
the courts, which have several methods, including the sanction of imprisonment and distress upon goods, available to them.
Vagrants
40. Mr. Stallard asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that 400 people were imprisoned for sleeping rough, under the Vagrancy Acts 1824 and 1935. during the most recent year for which figures are available, he will take steps to provide alternatives to prison for such homeless people.
Mr. Alexander W. Lyon: My hon. Friend is misinformed. 400 persons were prosecuted for the relevant offence in the Vagrancy Acts in 1973 but only 35 were sentenced to immediate terms of imprison- ment. 10 received a suspended sentence.
It has been the policy of successive Governments to develop alternatives to custody. The recognition of hostels in the Housing Act 1974 as eligible for the same subsidies and grants as other hous- ing will encourage more provision for poor single people. The joint review of homelessness which is being conducted by my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment, for Social Services and for Wales includes considera- tion of the powers and duties of local authorities, and a consultation paper will be issued shortly.
Motorists (Alcohol Tests)
41. Mr. Moonman asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, when the maximum penalties for motoring offences were revised recently, the offence of drunken driving and driving with excess alcohol was made punishable with a maximum £400 fine or four months' imprisonment, while the maximum pen- alty for refusing to give a urine and blood speciment was a £400 fine without the alternative of a custodial sentence.
24 R 9
Written Answers
498
Mr. Alexander W. Lyon: The Gov- ernment's policy, reflected in the Road Traffic Act 1974, is to reduce the number of offences imprisonable on a summary conviction. If we are to pursue this policy, which I hope commends itself to my hon. Friend, a line must be drawn somewhere. This particular line was drawn in a back- bench amendment supported by the Magistrates Association which the Gov- ernment accepted at the Committee stage of the Bill.
Borstals (Staff Uniforms)
42. Mr. David Steel asked the Secre-
tary of State for the Home Department whether it is the policy of his Department to encourage the wearing of uniforms by staff in borstals.
Dr. Summerskill: No.
Vietnamese Refugees
Mr. Alan Lee Williams asked the Sec- retary of State for the Home Department what will be the Government's policy in relation to the admission of Vietnam refugees.
Mr. Roy Jenkins: I am prepared to admit a number of refugees from Viet- nam who have some previous connection or tie with the United Kingdom.
Fires (Fatalities)
Mr. Ronald Atkins asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people died because of fires in 1974, 1973, and 1972 respectively.
Dr. Summerskill: The number of deaths from fires attended by local authority fire brigades in the United Kingdom was 1,078 in 1972 and 1,041 in 1973. The corres- ponding figure for 1974 is not yet available.
SOCIAL SERVICES
Remanded Juveniles
46. Mr. Brittan asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she is satisfied with the progress being made to provide the necessary secure remand facilities and to phase out prison remands in accordance with the provisions of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.