Mr. A. Cecil Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will revise the vetting procedure for potential recruits to the Royal Ulster Constabulary and its reserve to ensure that information about the intentions of potential recruits is not obtained by terrorist organisations;
(2) what advice is given by the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary to persons applying to join the force or its Reserve regarding vetting procedures; and what safeguards exist to avoid drawing attention to potential recruits during visits to relatives, friends and so on during the vetting process;
470W(3)what procedures are laid down to ensure that civilian staff engaged in processing the applications of members of the public to join the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve maintain confidentiality;
(4)what steps are taken to ensure the confidentiality of vetting procedures for potential recruits to the Royal Ulster Constabulary and its Reserve.
§ Mr. ScottVetting procedures for potential recruits to the Royal Ulster Constabulary and its Reserve are designed to take account of the need to maintain confidentiality; and appropriate advice about these procedures is given by the Royal Ulster Constabulary to applicants. For security reasons, it would not be right to release details of this advice or the arrangements made to protect the identity of applicants. These arrangements, and other aspects of the vetting procedures, are however kept under regular review.