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Identity Cards Bill

The Debtors Act 1869 abolished common law powers to imprison for debt, subject to various exceptions. The scope of those exceptions was further amended by the Administration of Justice Act 1970. The net result is that while it is still possible to be committed to prison for non-payment of court orders in relation to fines or various specified payments such as income tax or maintenance, there is in the Government’s view no common law or statutory power to imprison for non-payment of civil penalties. Had the Government intended there to be such a power, the Bill would have provided for it in explicit terms. For those reasons, there is no risk of being sent to prison as a result of the imposition of these civil penalties. I can therefore give the noble Lord, Lord Stoddart, that assurance. I hope he can feel more content with that comprehensive response than with the telegraphic response that I gave earlier.