To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what preparatory work he is doing on the structure and functions of the police before all-party peace talks. [33592]

There are two complementary processes currently in train dealing with policing in Northern Ireland. One involves a professional assessment of Northern Ireland's future policing needs in the context of continued peace and how the police service should meet those needs. The other is the continued development of proposals on the reform of relationships between the Government, the police authority and the Royal Ulster Constabulary, initiated by the publication in March 1994 of "Policing in the Community".Policing matters may be discussed with the Government at any time.