asked the Minister for Justice the proposals, if any, to introduce the index-linking of fines in the courts and if he has any review under consideration in relation to fines for specific offences which would ensure that anomalies do not arise.
Written Answers. - Index Linking of Fines.
325.
The maximum fines that may be imposed for breaches of any legal provisions that relate to my area of responsibility are reviewed as the opportunity arises when any related amending legislation is being considered. Ideally, no doubt, such a review would be carried out on a regular basis but, in the legislative area as in other areas, questions of priorities arise.
While, for reasons already explained in reply to questions on other occasions, I cannot commit myself one way or the other as to possible legislative proposals, my present opinion is that any attempt to introduce into the criminal law the concept of index-linking would give rise to substantial practical problems and might well be regarded by Parliament as unacceptable in principle as well, as it might be thought that maximum fines should always be specifically determined by Parliament itself.