Royal Ulster Constabulary (Hansard, 26 May 1993)

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to change the title of the RUC; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Mates
I have no plans to change the title of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the adjective Royal was given to the police service in Northern Ireland.

§ Mr. Mates
The prefix "Royal" was granted to the Royal Ulster Constabulary on its formation.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Roman Catholic members of the RUC have been murdered by republican criminals in each of the past 25 years.

§ Mr. Mates
It would not be appropriate to provide this information since it might lead to the identification of the religious affiliation of individual officers.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the RUC are known to have been Roman Catholic in each of the past 25 years.

§ Mr. Mates
Statistics regarding the community background of RUC officers are not available prior to 1990.
Since 1990 the percentage of officers with a Roman Catholic background is as follows:—

1990 1991 1992 ¹1993

RUC (Regular) 7.75 7.72 7.84 7.87

RUC Reserve² 5.45 5.82 5.92 6.14

¹ As at 17 May 1993.

² Full-time.

599W

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the ratio of RUC average earnings to average earnings in Northern Ireland in each of the past 25 years.

§ Mr. Mates
The information is available only for each of the past 21 years and is given in the following table:

Year Average earnings RUC¹ Average earnings Northern Ireland² Ratio average earnings (NI) v. average RUC earnings

£s/annum £s/annum

1992–93 32,954 not available —

1991–92 31,130 15,705 1:1.98

1990–91 28,013 14,346 1:1.95

1989–90 25,342 13,351 1:1.90

1988–89 23,080 12,166 1:1.90

1987–88 22,126 11,334 1:1.95

1986–87 19,872 10,502 1:1.89

1985–86 17,874 9,596 1:1.86

1984–85 17,004 9,074 1:1.87

1983–84 15,803 8,642 1:1.83

1982–83 14,957 7,947 1:1.88

1981–82 14,281 7,468 1:1.91

1980–81 11,648 6,831 1:1.70

1979–80 10,055 5,993 1:1.68

1978–79 7,876 4,919 1:1.60

1977–78 6,937 4,292 1:1.62

1976–77 5,891 3,797 1:1.55

1975–76 5,366 3,613 1:1.48

1974–75 4,608 2,881 1:1.60

1973–74 3,859 2,249 1:1.71

1972–73 3,421 1,949 1:1.75

1971–72 3,245 1,696 1:1.91

¹ RUC average earnings are for regular members of the force.

² Northern Ireland average earnings are as determined by the Department of Economic Development Annual New Earnings Survey.

	1990	1991	1992	¹1993
RUC (Regular)	7.75	7.72	7.84	7.87
RUC Reserve²	5.45	5.82	5.92	6.14
¹ As at 17 May 1993.
² Full-time.

Year	Average earnings RUC¹	Average earnings Northern Ireland²	Ratio average earnings (NI) v. average RUC earnings
	£s/annum	£s/annum
1992–93	32,954	not available	—
1991–92	31,130	15,705	1:1.98
1990–91	28,013	14,346	1:1.95
1989–90	25,342	13,351	1:1.90
1988–89	23,080	12,166	1:1.90
1987–88	22,126	11,334	1:1.95
1986–87	19,872	10,502	1:1.89
1985–86	17,874	9,596	1:1.86
1984–85	17,004	9,074	1:1.87
1983–84	15,803	8,642	1:1.83
1982–83	14,957	7,947	1:1.88
1981–82	14,281	7,468	1:1.91
1980–81	11,648	6,831	1:1.70
1979–80	10,055	5,993	1:1.68
1978–79	7,876	4,919	1:1.60
1977–78	6,937	4,292	1:1.62
1976–77	5,891	3,797	1:1.55
1975–76	5,366	3,613	1:1.48
1974–75	4,608	2,881	1:1.60
1973–74	3,859	2,249	1:1.71
1972–73	3,421	1,949	1:1.75
1971–72	3,245	1,696	1:1.91
¹ RUC average earnings are for regular members of the force.
² Northern Ireland average earnings are as determined by the Department of Economic Development Annual New Earnings Survey.