42(1)Sections 18 and 20 of the [1991 c. 53.] Criminal Justice Act 1991 (which relate respectively to the fixing of fines and financial circumstances orders) shall be amended as provided in sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) below.
(2)In section 18—
(a)for subsection (1), there shall be substituted the following subsection—
“(1)Before fixing the amount of any fine to be imposed on an offender who is an individual, a court shall inquire into his financial circumstances.”; and
(b)in subsection (3), after the word “fine” there shall be inserted the words “to be imposed on an offender (whether an individual or other person)
(3)In section 20, in subsections (1), (1A), (1B), (1C), (2) and (3) for the words “a person” and “any person” there shall be substituted the words “an individual” and “any individual”.
(4)In section 57(4) of that Act (application to local authorities of power to order fines to be paid by a parent or guardian), paragraph (b) shall be omitted.
(5)The amendments made by this paragraph apply in relation to offenders convicted (but not sentenced) before the date on which this paragraph comes into force as they apply in relation to offenders convicted after that date.