Chamber and committees

The available information is given in the following table. Data for the year 2001 are not yet available.Persons with a Charge Proved where the Main Offence Related to Pollution of Rivers and Other Waterways¹

	1999	2000
Companies:
Fine	17	21
Other2	2	2
Total	19	23
Average Fine (£)	3,706	3,090
Persons:
Fine	4	3
Other2	3	-
Total	7	3
Average Fine (£)	412	2,167

Notes:1. Includes relevant offences under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 and the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.2. Includes absolute discharge, admonished and no order made.

The available information is given in the following table. Data for the year 2001 are not yet available.Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts where the Main Offence was a Litter Offence¹, 1999-2000

	1999	2000
Companies:
Fine	-	1
Total	-	1
Average Fine (£)	-	7,500
Persons:
Fine	28	12
Admonished	3	1
Total	31	13
Average Fine (£)	56	116

Notes:1. Includes general litter offences and offences under the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978.

The available information on police officer numbers in each year since 1997 is given in the following table:Number of Police Officers

As at:	No. of Male Officers		No. of Female Officers		Total
31/3/97	12,752		2,037		14,789
31/3/98	12,753		2,227		14,980
	Full-Time	Part-Time	Full-Time	Part-Time
31/3/99	12,540	5	2,128	137	14,810
31/3/00	12,363	11	2,150	175	14,699
31/3/01	12,531	16	2,372	230	15,149
31/3/02	12,490	23	2,451	287	15,251

Notes: 1. This information is taken from Quarterly Strength Returns from forces.2. Although part-time working and job-sharing was introduced for police officers on 13 December 1995, detailed figures were not collected until 31 March 1999.

The Enterprise Network works with other key partners to increase the number of Modern Apprenticeships in manufacturing industries and in a broad range of service sector industries. The Make it in Scotland roadshow campaign aims to promote the image of the manufacturing sector to S2 pupils and to raise awareness of career opportunities, including Modern Apprenticeships. The roadshows will be rolled out nationally in 2002-03.

The Executive supports the work of the Scottish Social Services Council in promoting social work as a career and promoting social work training. As part of the action plan launched on 18 April, the Executive will establish an awareness and recruitment campaign which will include encouraging people to apply for social work training courses.

The figures for the numbers of men and women gaining social work awards in the years 1997-98 to 2000-01 are:

	2000-01	1999-2000	1998-99	1997-98
Female	328	305	273	280
Male	75	100	103	87
Total	403	405	376	367

The information requested is not held centrally.

A cross party working group has been established to consider possible legislation to tackle religious hatred. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland is represented on the group, which held its first meeting on 6 February and will meet again on 8 May.

Total policing costs in respect of Orange Order parades vary according to the size, location and timing of parades. Most parades (around 600 each year) take place in the areas covered by Strathclyde Police and Lothian and Borders Police. For local marches, where only a small police presence is required, the costs may be less than £100. However, the costs associated with the largest three or four annual events in the Strathclyde Police area are each estimated to be nearly £100,000. Total policing costs in relation to football matches with sectarian overtones also vary according to a range of factors, including the clubs involved and the importance of the match in the context of the league or cup. Policing costs will be incurred outside the stadium, for example on traffic and crowd control, as well as inside the ground. Depending on the circumstances, the overall costs of a fixture involving both Rangers and Celtic could be as high as £70,000.

There have been no such discussions between the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Executive.