To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the policing budget is for Northern Ireland in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the change in budget on numbers of police officers available for duties over the next 12 months. (167999)

The total policing budget for Northern Ireland in 2007-08 is £1,236,081,000. The NIO has received its CSR07 settlement from HM Treasury but work is currently ongoing on how this will be allocated across the Department. Until this is completed I am not in a position to advise on the final allocation for policing in Northern Ireland for 2008-09.

The Government remain completely committed to the proper resourcing of the PSNI to ensure that it is equipped to deliver effective policing for the benefit of everyone in Northern Ireland. PSNI budget, per head of population, is more than any other police service in the UK and Northern Ireland has more police officers than comparable parts of the UK.