§ Sir Nigel Fisherasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will consider the need for a purpose-built training centre for the police force in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. MoyleThis need has already been considered, and in 1975 the Police Authority for Northern Ireland submitted plans for a new college to replace the existing training centre at Enniskillen. However, in view of the need to curb Government expenditure it was decided to postpone these plans for the time being, and this decision was announced in the White Paper on Public Expenditure (Cmnd. 6393) presented to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Police Authority 617W naturally regretted the postponement of its plans but accepted the reasons for the decision.
§ Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total strength of the Royal Ulster Constabulary
31st May 1971 31st May 1972 31st May 1973 31st May 1974 31st May 1975 31st May 1976 RUC … 3,972 4,121 4,303 4,448 4,661 5,055 RUC Reserve: Full-Time … — 42 237 364 617 723 Part-Time … 737 1,709 2,212 2,174 4,227 4,044 TOTAL … 737 1,751 2,449 2,538 4,844 4,767