§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make further resources available to the Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable to investigate the unsolved murders of RUC officers: and if he will make a statement. [124798]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyI am very conscious of the feelings surrounding such an emotive issue as unsolved murders, and I have the deepest sympathy for the relatives of police officers who have suffered in this way.
Government has made available over £2.1 billion for policing over the next three years. It is for the Chief Constable to manage those considerable resources in the delivery of a day to day policing service including the conduct of criminal investigations. I know he is currently reviewing a variety of murder cases where there is a realistic prospect of securing a conviction.