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Mr. David Porter
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has plans to review the relative severity of fines for different categories of offence.
Mr John Patten
The Crown court has unlimited powers to impose fines. The maximum penalties for offences tried in magistrates courts are determined in legislation and are related to the seriousness of each offence. Maximum penalties are reviewed as necessary. Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the courts.