HL Deb 03 December 2001 vol 629 cc79-80WA
Lord Kilclooney

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether an equivalent number of Protestant applicants into the new Police Service of Northern Ireland would have to be removed from training if a number of Roman Catholic recruits were to withdraw from the service during their period of training; and if so, what criteria are used to select those Protestant trainees. [HL1380]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

Under the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000, the Chief Constable is required to appoint police trainees from the pool of qualified candidates on a 50 per cent Roman Catholic, 50 per cent non-Roman Catholic basis. The 50:50 requirement applies only to the appointment of recruits. It does not apply after police trainees have taken their place on the training course.

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 12 November (WA 52) concerning applications to join the Royal Ulster Constabulary in February, whether any of the tests were waived or postponed for some or all of the applicants in addition to those exempted by having passed the Home Office initial recruitment test. [HL1415]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

With the exception of those who had previously passed the Home Office initial recruitment test, all candidates underwent the same selection procedure. As candidates are required to be certified medically fit before undergoing the physical competence assessment, any candidates who failed their medical examination, and subsequently appealed the decision of the medical examiner, had their physical competence assessments postponed pending the outcome of those appeals.