Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the most recent percentages available for the Protestant and Roman Catholic sections of the community; what percentage of Protestants and Roman Catholics are known to be employed by(a) the Bank of Ireland and (b) Allied Irish Banks plc; and which departments of the Northern Ireland Office employ either the Bank of Ireland or Allied Irish Banks as their bankers.
§ Dr. MawhinneyIt is estimated that 36.8 per cent. of the population of Northern Ireland aged 16 and over in 1987 were Roman Catholic and 60.9 per cent non-Roman Catholic. In the survey from which these figures are taken 2 to 3 per cent. of those surveyed did not state a religion.
The latest available figures published by the Fair Employment Agency in March 1986 show the percentages of Protestants and Catholics employed in the banks referred to as follows:
align="right">Protestant per cent. Catholic per cent. Bank of Ireland 42 58 Allied Irish Banks plc 28 72 The Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland employs Allied Irish Banks plc as its banker. No other Northern Ireland Department employs either bank as its principal banker, although several have isolated accounts with one or the other.