To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what visits or other official engagements were undertaken by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science during his visit to the East Birmingham task force area on 30 January.

The programme included a visit to Hodge Hill girls school, to open the access centre, and a meeting with the Birmingham city action team to discuss the CAT action plan for 1991–92. The afternoon was spent at Coventry polytechnic.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what reasons were given for terminating contracts of employment belonging to home helps in each of the last six months in the Down and Lisburn unit of management;(2) how many home helps employed by the Down and Lisburn unit of management had had their contracts terminated in each of the last six months.

The information requested is not held centrally. The hon. Gentleman may wish to contact Mr. Norman Ferguson, the chairman of the Eastern health and social services board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many home helps arc currently employed in the Down and Lisburn unit of management.

I am advised by the chairman of the Eastern health and social services board that the number of home helps working in the Down and Lisburn unit of management at 31 March 1991 was 894; the whole-time equivalent is 179.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many home helps are currently employed in the Banbridge and Newry and Mourne units of management.

I am advised by the chairman of the Eastern health and social services board that the number of home helps working in the Craigavon/Banbridge community and Newry and Mourne units of management at 31 March 1991 was:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many home helps were employed in the Down unit of management from 1 April 1985 to 31 March 1990.

I am advised by the chairman of the Eastern health and social services board that the number of home helps working in the Down unit of management from 31 March 1985 to 31 March 1990 were:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many home helps were employed in the Banbridge and Newry and Mourne units of management from 1 April 1985 to 31 March 1990.

I am advised by the chairman of the Eastern health and social services board that the number of home helps working in the Banbridge/Craigavon and Newry and Mourne units of management from 31 March 1985 to 31 March 1990 were:—

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will now produce a consolidation of fishery law in Northern Ireland.

The Government would like to consolidate this legislation. However, the volume of Northern Ireland legislation which is currently being drafted, and which must be accorded priority, is such that no firm timetable for a consolidation of fisheries legislation can be set at this stage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements have been made for the appointment of a new police authority for Northern Ireland following the expiry of the term of office of the previous authority on 28 June; and if he will make a statement.

I have today appointed a new Police Authority for Northern Ireland for a term of three years from 29 June 1991. In making the appointments I have, as required by statute, consulted those organisations and persons who are representative of the community in Northern Ireland. I welcome the positive approach that was made by almost all those consulted. As a result, the membership widely represents the whole community and includes representatives from the local councils, voluntary organisations, agriculture, industry and commerce.The Police Authority has a vital task to perform in maintaining an adequate and efficient police force. It also has a very important role in enhancing the relationship between the police and the public it serves and I am confident that the new authority will continue the excellent work carried out by the outgoing authority, some of whose members are being reappointed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the reasons why the spread of parks, woods, sports grounds and undeveloped land in the borough of Greenwich, through the ward weighted density calculation, leads to reduced other services standard spending assessment.

Ward weighted density is one of the indicators used to calculated the all other services element of standard spending assessments (SSAs). It is based on the number of persons per hectare in each ward in an authority, using information from the 1981 Census; and on the overall population change for that authority between 1981 and the most recent available estimate of population produced by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. A full definition of the indicator is provided in the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England) which is in the Library. Any change in the area

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for Greenwich, Wandsworth and Lewisham (a) the numbers of children under five and under 18 years, (b) the SSA for social services-children, per child and (c) the social index element per child and the factors and the dates of base figures within the social index.

The following table shows for each of the three specified authorities the number of resident children aged under 18 years and under five years of age at 30 June 1989; the amount of Children's Social Services SSA per of Greenwich's parks and woods since 1981 will only have affected its score for this indicator and hence its SSA if this resulted in a change in the borough's resident population.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the main services within other services part of standard spending assessment; what are the elements determining the allocation; and what are the characteristics of Greenwich in the all ages social index that lead to the per resident allocation being half the Lewisham figure and one-third the Wandsworth figure.

A list of the main services covered by the all other services element of standard spending assessments and details of the elements determining its allocation are included in the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England). Information on the five factors which comprise the all ages social index is given in the Standard Spending Assessment Handbook 1991–92. Both documents are in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for Greenwich, Wandsworth and Lewisham the comparable rates of children in care, and perinatal and infant mortality, and other identifiable outcomes which are associated with or predicted by the elements of the social index used for social services allocations for children.

The most recent available information on the proportion of children in care, the perinatal and the infant mortality rates for Greenwich, Wandsworth and Lewisham are shown in the table below. The Children's Social Index is one of the indicators used to calculate the children's social services standard spending assessment. By itself, it is not used to predict any outcomes. Both the perinatal and infant mortality rates are based on a very small number of cases.child aged under 18 years for 1991–92 and the amount distributed on the basis of the Social Index element; and the factor values which constitute the present Children's Social Index. These factors are based on information collected by the 1981 Census.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has reached a conclusion on the deletion from the definitive map of footpath number 66, Parish of North Meols on appeal by Mr. and Mrs. Baybutt of The Coppins, Hundred End lane, Hesketh Bank, near Preston, against the decision by Lancashire county council; and if he will make a statement.

No.The exchange of representations between the parties in this appeal is still underway. My right hon. Friend cannot take a decision until those exchanges are complete and he has had an opportunity to consider all the information put to him.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was raised by local authorities in England in 1990–91 using their discretionary powers to raise £5 per head of adult population, in areas where there is a single tier of principal local authority, and £2.50 per head of adult population, in areas where there are two administrative tiers; and if he has made any assumptions for the likely yield under this power for 1991–92.

Information on the expenditure incurred under the provisions of section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended by section 36 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989) in respect of 1990–91 is not available. I have made no assumptions about the likely expenditure in respect of 1991–92.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to respond to the report by the House of Commons Environment Committee on the climatological and environment effects of rain forest destruction; and if he will make a statement.

I have today laid before the House the Government's response to this report. I welcome the conclusions of the Committee's constructive report. which endorse the Government's approach to helping developing countries conserve their tropical forests. The report makes a well-informed contribution to the debate on rainforest protection. The Government, in line with the Committee's recommendations, are working with the Governments and peoples of the tropical countries in their efforts to conserve the forests and we are implementing a major increase in assistance to the forest sector in the developing countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received since 1987 from Earth Resources Research (London) on environmental and transport policy developments in the European Community.

[holding answer 27 June 1991]: Earth Resources Research (London) has produced a number of reports on behalf of environmental organisations. I am not aware of the department's having received representations from them on European Community matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the financial and service targets that he has set for the Driving Standards Agency for the current financial year.

I have today placed copies of the Driving Standards Agency's business plan for 1991 in the House Library. The plan sets a demanding target of £20.89 for the 'L' test unit cost and a reduction in the average waiting time for `L' tests from eight to six weeks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what passenger air traffic he expects for the south-east in the late 1990s; and when he proposes to announce increased airport capacity in the south-east to meet it.

The Department's air traffic forecasts distinguish between London and regional airports, and are predicted for five-yearly intervals. Passenger demand at the London airports in 2000 is currently forecast to be in the range 88.7–117·6 It is for airport operators to bring forward proposals for new capacity. BAA plc holds outline planning permission for the development of Stansted to handle 15 million passengers per year, although expansion beyond the 8 mppa capacity of its first phase will require Parliament's agreement to the relaxation of the present limit on aircraft movements at the airport. No decision has been taken on the timing of an approach to Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, in view of the recent Civil Aviation Authority report, he will give an assurance that the airfield at Thurleigh will not be required as a passenger terminal.

In the light of the Civil Aviation Authority's advice last year on the air traffic control and air space implications of developing additional capacity at various airports in and near the south-east, to meet demand for air travel in the longer term, Thurleigh is not one of those being considered further by the working group we have established for the purpose. I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made on 9 May by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement, that on a preliminary assessment Thurleigh could have potential as a commercial non-passenger airfield.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that British Rail provides toilets, easy access, hand rails and greater space for disabled travellers on the new 323 train.

I wrote to the hon. Member on 26 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will instruct the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to allow individuals access to medical reports which it obtains on them on the same terms as apply under the Access to Medical Records Act 1988 to reports obtained for employment or insurance purposes.

[holding answer Monday 24 June 1991]: Medical reports provided to the medical advisers at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency are provided on a strictly doctor to doctor basis, under provisions in the Road Traffic Act 1988, for the sole purpose of determining fitness to hold a driving licence. Although there is no legal requirement I have asked the DVLA to consider the operational and privacy implications of releasing medical reports and I shall write further to the hon. Member.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations he has had from shellfish fishermen about the import of Canadian lobster;(2) what assessment he has made of whether Canadian lobsters are being dumped on the United Kingdom market.

I and my officials have received several representations about the import of Canadian lobster, including the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and the Shellfish Association of Great Britain.Although imports of Canadian lobsters has increased, there is no evidence of dumping. However, my officials have asked the European Commission to look into the problem, and we shall continue to monitor developments.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to ensure the United Kingdom shellfish industry is not undermined by Government subsidised competition from other countries.

I am not aware that the United Kingdom shellfish industry is being undermined in this way, but if my hon. Friend has specific evidence I will be happy to investigate further.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what total sum of money would be involved if the maximum sums permitted by EC regulations were paid to farmers and others qualified to receive them.

The total additional cost of making all payments under EC schemes at the maximum permitted rates cannot be assessed precisely.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the payments of any description which are being made to farmers, and those who qualify, at less than the maximum permitted by EC regulations.

The following payments under EC agricultural schemes are not being made at the maximum rates permitted in the relevant EC regulation:

Set-aside

Suckler cow premium (outside the less favoured areas only)

Hill livestock compensatory allowances (HLCAs)

Grants under the farm and conservation grant scheme for: Supply and installation of:

(i) energy saving facilities;

(ii) thermal insulation, vapour or gas sealing (excluding glasshouses)

Fences

Walls not constructed of traditional materials

Flood protection

Replacement drainage

Reseeding and regeneration of gressland

Preparation of improvement plans

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give a detailed description of Employment Action, including how, apart from remuneration, it will differ from the old community programme; and what work it will undertake.

Employment Action is a significant new initiative which will offer unemployed people the chance to keep their skills up to date by work experience on projects of value to the local community. It will provide work experience for 60,000 unemployed people in a full year. It will be targeted on people who have been unemployed for six months or more, including particularly those living in our inner cities.Employment Action will differ from the community programme in three very significant ways. Firstly, help for individuals in finding jobs will be an integral part of the programme. Secondly, the opportunities it provides will be full-time. Thirdly, TECs and local enterprise companies in Scotland, will take the lead in organising the programme locally and in determining which projects of genuine local benefit will be supported.The exact nature of the work carried out under Employment Action will be decided by the TECs and local enterprise companies with regard to the needs of the local community and of unemployed people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set up a special discrimination section within the industrial tribunal system in respect of cases involving race relations; and if he will make a statement.

I have no plans to do so. Industrial tribunals hearing cases of racial discrimination have a special race member with knowledge or experience of relations between persons of different racial groups in the employment field and this system is working satisfactorily.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will bring forward proposals for legislation to make ethnic record-keeping and monitoring obligatory by employers; and if he will make a statement.

The Government fully support the practice of ethnic monitoring in employment but believes that the voluntary approach is the best way forward in this area. Ethnic monitoring makes good business sense by helping employers to assess whether their personnel practices and procedures are providing equality of opportunity for all, irrespective of race.The Commission for Racial Equality's code of practice on employment which recommends ethnic monitoring by employers recognises that the need for detailed information, and the methods of collecting it, will vary according to the circumstances of individual establishments. It must therefore be for individual employers to adopt the method of monitoring that is best suited to their needs and circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers have subscribed publicly to the principles expressed in the management charter initiative since the publication of the Government's White Paper "Employment for the 1990s"; and if he will list them.

As at 25 June 1991, 943 employers had joined the management charter initiative, pledging commitment to its principles as expressed in the code of practice published in May 1989. A copy of the most current membership list will be lodged in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many industry lead bodies there are; and if he will list them, stating how many staff each of them have.

There are currently 157 industry lead bodies. A number of them are consortia. A listing of all organisations acting as industry lead bodies is contained in the regularly updated publication, the Standards Digest. A copy of the most recent edition has been placed in the House of Commons Library. It is not possible to state how many staff work on lead body activities as the majority of these bodies are also industry training organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in the footwear and textile industries for each month since February.

The number of employees in employment in the footwear and textile industries in Great Britain were as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of discussions between the member states of the European Community in respect of the draft convention on the crossing of external frontiers.

The scope and content of this draft convention, together with progess to date, were outlined in the answer that I gave on 20 June at columns 242–43 to a previous question by my hon. Friend following the meeting of EC Ministers concerned with immigration on 13–14 June. The draft convention, and the declarations to be attached to it, were further discussed at a special meeting of EC Ministers which I attended on 26 June. Agreement was reached on the substance, but the Spanish Government declined to agree to the provision which the draft Convention makes in respect of Gibraltar. I will inform my hon. Friend and the House of further developments as they occur.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he plans to increase the use of detention for asylum seekers;(2) if he plans to decrease the proportion of asylum seekers held in prisons in the United Kingdom.

Persons (including asylum seekers) who are liable to be detained under powers given in the Immigration Act 1971 are detained only if they cannot be relied on to comply with the terms of temporary admission or release. There are no present plans to change this policy. Detention may be in immigration service accommodation or in prisons, depending upon the degree of security required and the availability of places.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals to increase the prison discharge grant to the equivalent of two weeks' payment.

We are considering the representations which have been made to us about this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his evaluation of the effect on the crime rate of Crime Prevention Week.

Home Office research shows that the following were some of the new initiatives which were set up as a result of the week: 37 crime prevention panels, 73 neighbourhood watch schemes, 300 vehicle watch schemes and 54 other watch schemes. Moreover, business and media support for the week was worth over £11 million. In addition, 1.5 million copies of the crime prevention handbook were distributed. Taken together, we believe these activities and the many others that took place during the week, will have encourged the public to help to prevent crime, particularly crimes involving property, and that increased public participation in crime prevention can lead to a reduction in crime.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress towards implementing the recommendations of the Women's National Commission report on violence against women.

I will reply as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the date on which the announcement was made of an error in the calculation of the retail prices index which led to an underpayment of public service pensions; and what was the total amount due to national health service pensioners as a result of the error at that date;(2) if he will give the

The announcement of an error in calculating the retail prices index between February 1986 and October 1987 was made on 11 December 1987 at column 283 by my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Employment and on 18 December 1987 at columns 1376–84 by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People. The underpayment on all retirement pensions and long-term benefits at that date was estimated at £109 million. The amount attributable to national health service pensioners was subsequently estimated as £1·13 million (England and Wales) and £180,000 (Scotland). This was based on an estimate of the expenditure on national health service pensions in the years when the underpayments occurred. From April 1989 all pensions were adjusted to make good the effect of the error.On 3 May 1988 at column

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to improve the recruitment and retention of women in the national health service and to enable them to fulfil their potential in a changing labour market.

There are already many initiatives under way in the NHS. These include career breaks, flexible working arrangements, job sharing, flexi-hours, holiday play schemes and more flexible approaches to training.A seminar "Women in the NHS: Opening Minds Opening Doors" was held on Tuesday 25 June. This brought together representatives from health authorities and NHS trusts. It concluded very positively in the preparation of regional action plans to be implemented over the coming year. Earlier this year I invited regional chairmen to nominate a non-executive director in their region to take forward this work. Three regional conferences will be held in the autumn to build on this progress plus another national event next year. In the meantime, we are preparing a document to promote best practice in this field.All these steps will provide a spur to bring employment practices for women throughout the NHS up to the very high standards which we are working to attain.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he has received from the French authorities to his reminder about the unlimited validity of forms E111 issued in the United Kingdom to holders ordinarily resident here.

I regret that, despite two reminders, the French authorities have not so far responded. I am asking the British Embassy in Paris to assist in bringing this matter to a conclusion and I shall ensure that my right hon. Friend is kept informed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what extra costs are envisaged for the employment of management staff and techniques in fund-holding general practices; and whether these will be met by extra payment;(2) what financial arrangements are being made to ease the transition of fund-holding general practices towards greater managerial responsibility.

In recognition of their additional management responsibilities fund holders are eligible to claim up to £33,000 assistance with the relevant costs. An allowance of £16,500 is payable for this purpose in the preparatory year.

To ask the Secretary of Slate for Health how many people had been waiting for more than a year for an operation in East Birmingham district on (a) 30 September 1989 and (b) 30 June 1990.

There were 456 people waiting over a year for in-patient operations in East Birmingham district at 30 September 1989 and 268 at 30 June 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to bring forward a consultative document on equalisation of the state pension age.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made to the House by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State on 26 June at column 997–1006.

To ask the Secretary of Slate for Social Security what his latest estimate is of the number of pensioners who both pay income tax and receive housing benefit.

The number of those aged 60 or over in Great Britain who pay income tax and recieve housing benefit is estimated to be 110,000 during 1991–92.

Source: Modelled using data drawn from the 1986, 1987 and 1988 Family Expenditure Surveys.

Note: Married and unmarried couples count as one unit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the number of pensioners who received housing benefit and paid income tax if the income tax age allowances were increased by (a) £500 and (b) £1,000 at current benefit levels.

The number of those aged 60 or over in Great Britain who would receive housing benefit and pay income tax in 1991–92 if the income tax age allowances were increased is estimated as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants are still waiting to receive their April increase in benefits; and if he will also supply totals for each standard region.

The uprating exercise for all social security benefits has been completed. There will be individual cases where for various reasons it has not been possible to pay the April increase, but information on these cases is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for review by a social fund inspector were considered by social fund inspectors during January, February, March, April and May.

The information requested is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has now received an opinion from the Social Security Advisory Committee concerning his Department's proposal to abrogate regulation 72 of the Social Security Benefit (Adjudication) Regulations 1986; and if he will make a statement.

I can confirm that the Social Security Advisory Committee has submitted its report on the proposal to amend regulation 72. We are carefully considering the contents of that report before proceeding further.

To ask the Lord President of the Council when the Top Salaries Review Body report on parliamentary pensions is to be published; when the Government Actuary's valuation report on the parliamentary contributory pension fund will be laid before the House; and if he will make a statement.

In my letter of 4 February to the chairman of the Top Salaries Review Body, I invited the TSRB to review a number of aspects of the parliamentary pension scheme, including the balance between the Exchequer and Member contributions, the role of the Government Actuary and the rate of accrual. The TSRB has in consequence conducted a wide ranging review of the financing of the scheme. Its report has been published today and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House. Copies are also available in the Vote Office. I would like to thank the review body most warmly for the speed and thoroughness with which they have produced their report.The TSRB have recommended that

To ask the Lord President of the Council why supplies of Loseley ice cream for the Members Dining Room have been cancelled in favour of another product; and if he will resume orders for Loseley ice cream forthwith.

[holding answer 26 June 1991]: I understand that the Assistant Manager of the Refreshment Department wrote to the right hon. Member on this matter on 21 June. Loseley ice cream is still being supplied.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when counsel for the Inland Revenue conceded in court in the Woolwich case that there had been double or additional taxation.

Counsel for the Inland Revenue did not concede in the Woolwich case that there had been double or additional taxation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the annualised rate of growth of sterling M3 for the eight months from mid-June 1979 to mid-April 1980, and for each subsequent financial year from 1980–81.

Sterling M3 is no longer published. For M4, the nearest current measure of money stock, the information requested is shown in the table:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of civil service staff hours which have been spent producing information used in the production of the document on Labour's public expenditure plans, published on 20 June, and the total cost to the Exchequer thereof.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate (a) the total cost, (b) the total number of man hours and (c) the number of officials in each grade involved in the costings of Labour party proposals included in the letter from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, which was deposited in the Library on 20 June.

[holding answer 27 June 1991]: It is not the normal practice to give details of the time spent by civil servants in carrying out particular tasks for Ministers. This work was undertaken in accordance with guidelines on the role of officials in costing Opposition policies drawn up by the head of the home civil service and published in the Fifth Report of the Treasury and Civil Service Committee for the 1989–90 session.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what help and assistance his Department has given to merchant shipping to counter the problem of piracy at sea.

We recognise the importance of combating piracy. Together with other countries the United Kingdom participated in a recent meeting sponsored by the International Maritime Organisation which discussed piracy. We will play a full part in further deliberations in the International Maritime Organisation in October.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will reconsider the non-granting of a visa to Oleg Tsarev to visit the United Kingdom.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer on 24 June, Official Report, column 351, whether any Gibraltarian expertise is being provided or whether any exhibit will come from Gibraltar.

The detailed content of exhibits for the British pavilion has yet to be decided, but any exhibit will need to fit in with the overall exhibition theme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of employment training placements in 1990–91 were in workplaces with employers; and what percentage were in project-based schemes.

The information requested is set out on the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence he has on the level of employer contributions to the finance of ET schemes since ET started.

We do not have any evidence. Employer contributions are a matter for negotiation between training providers and employers providing placements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the latest available figures for the total number and percentage of convicted offenders broken down by (a) sex, (b) age and (c) type of offence; and what are the average and median ages for known offenders in terms of (i) males and (ii) females, respectively.

The information requested is set out in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what are the latest available figures and percentages for the total number of people receiving custodial sentences broken down by (a) type of sentence and (b) sex;(2) what are the latest available figures and percentages for the total number of people receiving non-custodial sentences broken down by

The information requested is set out in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide statistics on the total number of prisoners between the years 1979 to 1990 broken down by (a) sex and (b) type of offence; and of these how many had (i) no previous convictions, (ii) one conviction and (iii) two or more convictions.

The available information is given in the table. Statistics are only held in relation to the number of sentenced prisoner receptions over the period in question and on whether a prisoner has previous convictions rather than how many.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Lord Advocate has issued any guidance in the last 10 years to procurators fiscal in respect of prosecutions under the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act 1920 and part III of the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937 as amended and associated local byelaws; and if he will make a statement.

My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has not issued any guidance in the last 10 years to procurators fiscal in respect of contraventions of the Acts or byelaws specified. Any reports received by procurators fiscal alleging such contraventions are considered according to the individual circumstances of each case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) prosecutions have been brought and (b) convictions obtained in respect of alleged offences under (i) the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act 1920, (ii) part III of the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937 as amended and (iii) local byelaws made under section 28 of the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937, in each year since 1980.

The information requested is not separately identifiable in the Scottish Office classification of crimes and offences.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of persons convicted for offences in relation to the provisions of the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1880 or the Civil Imprisonment (Scotland) Act 1882 in each of the past 20 years in terms of (a) type of offence, (b) sex of convicted miscreant and (c) type of sentence imposed by the court; and if he will make a statement.

Information in the form requested is not available, but the prison population of civil prisoners averaged 1 in the years 1985 to 19879, while the average number of receptions of such prisoners over this period was 15. These figures relate to all types of civil imprisonment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest available figures and percentages for people sentenced by the courts for indictable offences broken down by (a) sex and (b) age.

The tables give information on all persons who were proceeded against on indictment and who had a charge proved against them in 1989. It is not possible to provide information on persons who had a charge proved under summary procedure whose cases could have been heard on indictment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest available figures and percentages for the total number of people cautioned for summary and indictable offences broken down by (a) sex, (b) age and (c) type of offence.

Information on the number of persons warned by the police is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest available figures for the total number of people employed in the prison service broken down by (a) occupation and grade and (b) sex.

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had about the conduct of Sheriff Ewen Stewart; and if he will make a statement.

Following representations, including representations from Members of this House, and in the light of the observations of Sheriff Principal R. A. Bennett QC in a recent case, I have concluded that it would be appropriate for an investigation to be undertaken of the fitness for office of Sheriff Ewen Stewart. I have therefore asked the Lord President and Lord Justice Clerk to carry out such an investigation under the provisions of section 12 of the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to strengthen support for foreign language study in Scotland.

The Government attach great importance to the study of modern foreign languages within the school curriculum and beyond. Guidance is that all secondary pupils should pursue the study of a modern European foreign language throughout the four years of compulsory secondary education and that increasing numbers should continue their study beyond that. At the same time pilot studies are being undertaken on the teaching of modern languages in the primary school. Employers are increasingly aware of the need for language training to ensure that their staff have the requisite capabilities to trade successfully within the single European market.To support schools and others in the substantial demands made on them by these developments the Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research (CILT) and the university of Stirling, with the support of the Scottish Office Education Department, are to establish a Scottish Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research.The centre will be based in the university of Stirling and will commence operations in December this year. Its work will be evaluated after three years. The centre will provide support and material for language teachers in their work and will also aim to supply information and advice to firms about language policy, recruitment and training. The centre will draw on the experience and resources of CILT built up over many years and will also benefit from Stirling University's particular facilities for modern language provision and associated pre-service teacher training.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Government will respond to the Report of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology on innovation in manufacturing industry—1st report, 1990–91, HL Paper 18–1.

Yesterday the Government published their reply, "Innovation in Manufacturing Industry: Government Response to the First Report of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology, 1990–91 Session." Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the output of the steel industries of each EC member state in 1980 and in 1990.

The information requested is shown in the table. Output is given in terms of crude steel production; this is the basic output measure for which EC-wide statistics are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations his Department has received about misleading advertising techniques practised by promoters selling timeshares; whether he has any evidence that such complaints are increasing in number; and if he will make a statement.

I receive a steady stream of complaints about the marketing practices of some timeshare companies and associated high pressure selling. There has been an increase over the last month but this may reflect publicity given to these practices in a recent television programme.I have already told the House that we intend to amend the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 to tighten the controls on statements about services and to bring timeshare award schemes within the Act's powers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will obtain for his departmental library a copy of "European Economy December 1990", published by the European Commission.

A copy of the publication is already held by the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the single market laws have been implemented by each EEC member to date.

I refer to the response that I gave to the hon. Member for Warrington, South (Mr. Butler) on 25 June at columns. 438–40, which gives the full implementa-tion records of all member states.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give details of the proposals not yet adopted necessary for the completion of the single market.