Ulster Unionist MLA Ross Hussey has responded to the announcement by Justice Minister David Ford that a new fund totalling £383,000 has been set up to support former part-time police reservists and their dependants.
Speaking in his role as chair of the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC Association Part Time Officers Welfare Group, Mr Hussey said;
“Whilst I obviously welcome the announcement of financial support for former part-time reservists and their dependants, I am rather disappointed that the Justice Minister does not fully describe how these funds will be distributed. Both I and the committee of the RUC GC Association Part Time Officers Welfare Group have been pressing the Minister to release these funds for some time.
The announcement seems to have come “out of the blue' as there was no indication to us that an agreement had been reached as to how the monies were to be spent. Indeed I was with the Secretary of the RUC GC Association Part Time Officers Welfare Group in Cardiff at the weekend attending the Police National Memorial Service, and when we met the Justice Minister there he certainly did not mention this initiative to us.
I await with interest details of which funds which will benefit from this money and am also keen to learn details of the audit arrangements that will ensure this is used as additional support for those former part time members of the RUC Reserve.”