AN MSP HAS said figures released by the Scottish Government, detailing the proportion of court fines paid to the Treasury, are “disproportionate.”

During Parliamentary questions, west of Scotland member Stuart McMillan asked how much money was collected by each district court in each of the last three years.

He also asked for the amount retained by each council and how much was forwarded to the Treasury.

Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill drew his attention to figures from the annual returns to the Scottish Government.

They contain the value of fines and fixed penalties collected by each district court, and how much was sent to the Exchequer.

The money included fines imposed by the court, registered fines, compensation orders, fines transferred out, fiscal fines and fixed penalty notices.

It was added that, in some areas, a proportion of the money collected by district courts is sent to enforcement body the Safety Camera Partnership.

Fife was unable to provide details of fines and fixed penalties for any of the last three years, while Dundee was unable to specify figures for 2006-2007.

Mr McMillan explained, “I’m on the justice committee and I decided to ask the question following a discussion I had with a constituent. It was speculative—just to get a feel for the situation.”

He said the table showed the amount of fines taken in each area, and the amount paid to HM Treasury, appeared disproportionate in a number of cases.

“In Perth and Kinross in 2005-2006, more money went down south even though less money was collected in,” he said.

Between 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, the money from fines and fixed penalties at Dundee District Court dropped by £89,269, but money to the Exchequer only fell by just over £19,000.

Meanwhile, in Perth and Kinross the total taken by the district court dropped from £731,398 to £681,201, but the amount paid to the treasury increased by more than £100,000.

The following year, the cash taken by the court almost halved, yet the amount paid to the Treasury was £136,721—the same as two years previously when over £731,000 was taken in fines and fixed penalties.

In Angus, total fines and fixed penalties rose after the first year by almost £30,000 and the money paid to the Exchequer increased by just over £32,000.

Last year, however, fines there dropped by over £100,000 from £518,559 to £395,271, but the money sent only fell by £32,000.

In Scotland, just over £14 million was collected in district court fines and fixed penalties in 2006 to 2007, but this figure excludes the cash paid in areas unable to provide details.

Almost £8 million went to the Exchequer.

Mr McMillan added, “I will be lodging some more questions. There are so many inconsistencies with these figures.”