asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the new policing college near Cookstown, County Tyrone, will be completed; and at what cost.[HL6236]

The original outline business case for the new police college estimated a cost of £74.6 million for construction. With professional fees and land costs, this gave a total projected cost in the 2002 outline business case of £102.9 million. A revised outline business case has since been submitted to the department, which estimates the cost, on the basis of prices at the fourth quarter of 2006, at £134.15 million.

The Government have advised the Northern Ireland Policing Board and PSNI that it will make up to £90 million available for the new college and work is ongoing to explore a number of options to take this project forward. Construction of the college will begin as soon as that work is complete, but it is too early to say at this stage when the college will be completed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether progress has been made towards the implementation of Patten recommendation 131 relating to the proposed Police Service of Northern Ireland training college at Desertcreat near Cookstown; and whether they remain committed to providing adequate funding for the project.[HL6656]

The Government have advised the Northern Ireland Policing Board and PSNI that it will make up to £90 million available for the new college and work is ongoing to explore a number of options to take this project forward. Construction of the college will begin as soon as that work is complete, but it is too early to say at this stage when the college will be completed.