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Truancy: Fines

Volume 468: debated on Wednesday 28 November 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) if he will make an assessment of the likely effect on numbers of prison places of any custodial sentences handed out to 17 year olds who have not paid fines for truanting in the first year following implementation of such a policy; (163650)

(2) if he will estimate the likely number of custodial sentences which will be handed out to 17 year olds who have not paid fines for truanting in the first year following implementation of such a policy.

I have been asked to reply.

None. The main enforcement system is not a criminal one and in practice a custodial sentence for non-participation is not a realistic prospect.