Mr. David Burrowes (Enfield, Southgate) (Con): What proportion of those serving a custodial sentence in Northern Ireland were convicted for defaulting on fine payments. [195502]
The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Paul Goggins): Although on average fine defaulters occupy up to 30 prison places at any one time, they represent 30 per cent. of all committals to prison. Ministers have made a commitment to deal with that overuse of custody by a range of alternative community-based penalties.
