§ Mr. DonaldsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many(a) Protestant and (b) Roman Catholic applicants to the new Police Service of Northern Ireland were successful in being selected for the first batch of recruits; [11938]
(2) how many serving members of the full-time RUC Reserve have applied to joint the new Police Service of Northern Ireland and have been successful in being selected for the first batch of recruits; [11942]
(3) how many female applicants to the new Police Service of Northern Ireland were successful in being selected for the first batch of recruits; [11940]
(4) how many female applicants to the new Police Service of Northern Ireland were successful in being short listed to the final pool prior to the selection of the first batch of recruits; [11939]
(5) how many (a) Protestant and (b) Roman Catholic applicants to the new Police Service of Northern Ireland were successful in being short listed to the final pool prior to the selection of the first batch of recruits; [11937]
(6) how many serving members of the full-time RUC Reserve have applied to join the new Police Service of Northern Ireland and were successful in being short listed to the final pool prior to the selection of the first batch of recruits. [11941]
§ Jane KennedyAround 550 candidates have qualified for entry to the merit pool. Of these, approximately 150 have declared themselves Catholic and approximately610W 400 have declared themselves Protestant or are non-determined; some 180 are female; and approximately 80 are serving members of the full-time Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve. Final figures will not be available for some time as a number of candidates are subject to outstanding issues, for example, medical appeals.
Of the first batch of 47 recruits, 24 have declared themselves Catholic and 23 have declared themselves protestant; 14 are female; and 10 are former full-time reserve officers.