§ Mr. Clifford ForsytheTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the projected expenditure for RUC operational policing in 1996; [8472]
(2) what was the (a) projected and (b) actual expenditure on RUC operational policing in 1995. [8471]
§ Sir John WheelerThe information is not held in the form requested; police budgets are calculated by financial, not calendar, year. The approved police authority grant for the 1996–97 financial year will be £584 million.
The projected expenditure—the approved grant to the Police Authority for Northern Ireland for the 1995–96 financial year—was £609.2 million. I will write to the hon. Member once the actual expenditure for 1995-96 is known in April 1996. In both cases, the provision covers all RUC and PANI costs.