To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to reply to the letter of 27 September 2007 from the hon. Member for North Down on police officers’ pay; and if he will provide an explanation for the delay in replying. (170472)

Police officer pay in Northern Ireland is considered as part of the national Police Negotiating Board process. I understand that the hon. Lady wrote in identical terms to Home Office Ministers and received a substantive response setting out the Government’s position on police pay.

In view of this Ministers did not send a separate response. I apologise for the confusion and will write setting out the current position with regard to the 2007 police pay award.