asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the working party studying peaceful nuclear explosions under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency has reported; if so, whether its report has been published; if not, why not, given that its subject matter is of immediate public interest now that a complete test ban is under negotiation.

The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency adopted the Report of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Nuclear Explosions for Peaceful Purposes at their meeting of 23rd and 24th September 1977. The Report has been distributed to Member Governments. I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What consideration has been given to the Third Report of the Committee under the chairmanship of the Honourable Lord Thomson on Criminal Appeals in Scotland and what conclusions they have reached.

As indicated in his answer on 16th December 1977 in another place, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State has initiated consultations with interested bodies on the Third Report and will reach conclusions on its recommendations when these consultations have been completed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:When they received the report of the Working Party under the chairmanship of Sheriff Bryden on the applicability to Scotland of the Devlin Report on Identification, and when they propose to publish the report.

The Working Group on Identification Procedure under Scottish Criminal Law with Sheriff-Principal W. J. Bryden as chairman which was appointed in August 1976 submitted its report to the Secretary of State and the Lord Advocate on 16th December 1977. The report is now being printed and will be presented to Parliament and published as soon as possible.House adjourned at twenty-five minutes past eight o'clock.