HC Deb 29 October 1975 vol 898 cc529-30W
Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what types of weapons are allocated to the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the RUC Reserve, respectively; and in what numbers.

Mr. Moyle

It is not in the interests of security to provide this information.

Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether he will supplement the budget allocated to the RUC for community relations work in 1974–75 of £20,000, by introducing an independent system for investigating police complaints in order to help establish good police/community relations;

(2) why the report of the working party on complaints against the police, set up in January 1974 by the hight hon. Member for Cambridgeshire (Mr. Pym), has not been made public.

Mr. Moyle

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 23rd October 1975.—[Vol. 898, c. 700–701.]

Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the Royal Ulster Constabulary is Catholics; and what percentage of the RUC Reserve is Catholics.

Mr. Moyle

No record is kept of the religion of members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary or Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve. It is, therefore, not possible to provide the precise information requested, though there is no doubt that the number of Roman Catholics in the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Reserve remains regrettably low.