Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show the various increases in pay on a daily and hourly basis for the RUC Reserve since the force was formed.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesPart-time members of the RUC Reserve who are performing probationary training receive annual remuneration of £11. Those who have completed such training receive £15 per annum.
In respect of duties additional to those required for qualification for the annual payments, until 1st November 1972 remuneration was paid at the rate of 45p per hour and since that date at the rate of 55p per hour—male—and 53p per hour—female.
The pay of full-time members of the Reserve and their pay increases are linked with those for regular constables.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what tax-free payments are made to members of the RUC and RUC Reserve.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesPayments are made to all members of the RUC, and to full-time members of the Reserve, in respect of footwear. In appropriate cases, uniform, stockings, rent and plain clothes allowances and detective expenses are paid; and allowances are also paid in respect of the use of private motor vehicles, travelling subsistence and removal. An amount of £45 is paid to constables and sergeants on passing the appropriate RUC promotion examinations.
Part-time members of the RUC Reserve receive an allowance in respect of footwear, which is included in the annual bounty; plain clothes allowances and travelling and subsistence allowances are also paid to them as appropriate.
All of these payments and allowances are effectively tax free.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many increases in pay have been made to members of the RUC over the last four years; and what are these increases in the terms of the lowest paid members of the force.
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§ Mr. Merlyn ReesRUC pay increases are the same as those awarded to forces in Great Britain. Over the last four years there have been five such increases as shown in the following annual rates applicable to an 18-year-old constable in the service.
Date of pay increase Revised rate of pay 1.1.70 £900 (previously £830) 1.9.70 £ 966 1.9.71 £1,029 1.9.72 £1,182 1.9.73 £1,281
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of the RUC were in full-time service on the 1st June 1974; what is the religious breakdown of the force with regard to Church of England, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptists, and others; and how the numbers of each sect compare with the overall numbers of each sect in the total population of Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesOn 1st June 1974, 4,441 members of the RUC were in full-time service. No record is kept of the religion of members of the force and there is no religious bar on entry.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of Roman Catholics in the RUC Reserve; and what is the total number of persons in the force on 1st June 1974.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe strength of the RUC Reserve at 1st June 1974 was 2,538. No record is kept of the religion of members of the Reserve and there is no religious bar on entry.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of the RUC Reserve are on full-time work with the RUC.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees364 on 1st June 1974.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, in view of the special allowance now paid to members of the Regular Army who are serving in Northern Ireland, he will now pay a special allowance to members of the RUC and the RUC Reserve.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI shall be meeting representatives of the Police Council for 173W the United Kingdom on 20th June to discuss the Royal Ulster Constabulary claim for a special duty allowance.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the increase in strength of the RUC and of the RUC Reserve in the city of Londonderry over the 12 months ending on 31st May 1974.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a Question from the hon. Member for Armagh (Mr. McCusker) on 24th May.— [Vol. 874. c.319.]