§ Mr. DonaldsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Roman Catholic applicants entered each recruitment competition since the formation of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. [98314]
§ Jane KennedyThe numbers of Catholic applicants entering each recruitment competition for the Police Service of Northern Ireland to date are as follows:
Number Competition 1 2,815 Competition 2 1,891 Competition 3 1,640 Competition 4 1,480 These numbers consistently represent some 35 per cent. of the total applications in each of the four competitions.
§ Andrew MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 11 February 2003, Official Report, column 683W, whether (a) the Special Branch Portal Unit and (b) the response unit from Strandtown PSNI station provided the initial presence at the arrest for drugs by Customs and Excise referred to in his reply; what the response time was; and if he will make a statement. [98623]
§ Jane KennedyOn 19 January 2003, personnel from the Special Branch Portal Unit were in attendance at the scene along with Customs and Excise personnel when the drugs arrest was made at Belfast City Airport. No assistance was required from PSNI at Strandtown.
§ Andrew MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 11 February,Official Report, column 683W, on Belfast City Airport, whether (a) the Special Branch Portal Unit and (b) the response unit from Strandtown PSNI station provided the initial presence following the complaints of (i) the alleged assault in flight, (ii) three disruptive passengers and (iii) one drunk person; what the response time was in each case; and if he will make a statement. [98624]
§ Jane KennedyIn relation to each of these complaints the following action was taken:
(i) Alleged assault in flight—Report of disturbance on BMI airbus, in-bound on 9 October 2002. PSNI Strandtown were contacted at 1305 hrs. Two tactical support group call signs and a PSNI Strandtown call sign were in attendance at the scene upon arrival of the flight at 1316hrs. Response time 11 minutes.
(ii) Three disruptive passengers—On 12 July 2002, a person was reported drunk on board an in-bound FLYBE flight from Gatwick. Response requested from PSNI Strandtown at 1045 hrs and arrived at 1057 hrs, before the arrival of the flight. Response time 12 minutes.
(iii) Drunk person—On 24 December 2002 there was a report of a drunken person in the terminal foyer. A PSNI Strandtown call sign was tasked at 2000 hrs and arrived at the scene at 2011 hrs. Response time 11 minutes.
228WPersonnel from Special Branch Portal Unit, Belfast City Airport, were also in attendance at the scene of these complaints prior to the arrival of police from PSNI Strandtown.
§ Andrew MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what procedures, tests, and exercises constitute the process by which PSNI officers reclassify in relation to use of firearms; and if he will make a statement. [98394]
§ Jane KennedyThe training comprises an introductory Health and Safety input, a refresher handling class, a live fire qualification shoot and an interactive lesson on Human Rights and Police Use of Firearms.