§ Mr. MaginnisTo ask the Secretary of Stale for Northern Ireland what plans there are to deploy greater manpower resources to the Royal Ulster Constabulary's338W drugs squad; if other officers are seconded to augment the squad; and how many seconded officers have served six months or longer periods during each of the last four years.
§ Sir Patrick MayhewThe deployment of police officers is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and I understand that the strength of the drugs squad is regularly reviewed by him. There is an ongoing programme of six-month secondments to the drugs squad; figures on secondments are not kept on a yearly basis but it is estimated that 90 officers have been involved over the last four years.