§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions of retailers for the sale of(a) alcohol, (b) tobacco and (c) 18–classified video products to people who are under age were undertaken in the last year for which figures are available; and what advice his Department issues to the police regarding such offences. [14713]
§ Mr. MacleanInformation held centrally shows that in England and Wales in 1993, 156 defendants were prosecuted for the illegal sale of alcohol on licensed premises to persons under 18. In 1993, 143 defendants were prosecuted for offences related to the illegal sale of tobacco to children under 16.
The Video Recordings Act 1984 does not differentiate the supply of a video recording of classified work for hire from other forms of commercial supply, such as the supply of a classified video for sale. In 1989, there was one prosecution under section 11 of the Act relating to supply of a video recording in breach of the classification awarded. Information collected centrally from 1990 to 1994 does not identify individual offences committed under this specific Act from other summary offences. However, from 1995 onwards the information is being recorded separately. Home Office guidance to the police and local authorities in 1992 on the law relating to the 138W sale of tobacco to children indicated that enforcement action was primarily a matter for the latter.