§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the staffing levels of the RUC Special Branch in September 1994 and September 1999 in total and broken down(a) into component operational units, (b) by grade or rank, (c) by perceived religious or community origin and (d) by gender. [101882]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 15 December 1999]: For the information to be provided fully in the form requested would identify the religious or community background of individual officers and would therefore breach statutory confidentiality. The following tables show the numbers of officers by rank at 30 September 1994 and 1999 and the gender and the community background of officers in the Department at 31 December 1994 and 1998 (the latest figures available).
5W
Composition by rank Rank 30 September 1994 30 September 1999 Superintendent and above 19 20 Chief Inspector 20 22 Inspector 58 58 Sergeant 136 133 Constable 581 594 Total 814 827
Composition by gender and community background 1994 1998 Perceived Protestant Male 654 657 Female 80 84 Total 734 741 Perceived Roman Catholic Male 49 52 Female 3 4 Total 52 56 Not known Male 18 20 Female 0 0 Total 18 20
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what positions, rank and postings were held by the Chief Constable of the RUC in each of the years 1988 and 1989. [105654]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 17 January 2000]: In 1988 and 1989 the Chief Constable was a Detective Superintendent stationed at RUC Headquarters.