PM Asked To 'Reserve' RUC Payouts

Just hours after yesterday's visit to Northern Ireland by David Cameron, the Prime Minister, some details of the financial items discussed have begun to emerge.

Stormont First Minister, Peter Robinson has revealed that he pressed Mr Cameron to ensure that imminent gratuity payments to those who served in the RUC Part Time Reserve are treated in a fair and equitable fashion.

He told the PM they should not be subject to taxation and National Insurance contributions and reported today that the Prime Minister has pledged to look into the matter.

DUP Leader Peter Robinson said: "Those who served in the RUC Part Time Reserve deserve to be treated in a fair and equitable fashion.

"In recognition of their duty and dedication down through the years, the DUP secured the gratuity payments scheme.

"It is now essential that the government at Westminster plays its part in ensuring those who served our country and kept us safe during the Troubles in the Part Time Reserve are treated fairly.

"I have pressed the Prime Minister during his recent visit to Northern Ireland on this matter and he has pledged to look into it," he said, this afternoon.

"There is a principle of justice and fairness at stake in this matter," the DUP politician continued.

"Those who left the police as a consequence of the Patten Report and those affected by the disbandment of the Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment (RIR) were not subjected to the full rigours of the taxation system.

"Those who will receive this gratuity for their service in the Part Time Reserve should be subject to the same rules.

"I urge the Prime Minister to do all he can on this matter and ensure we see a satisfactory outcome," said Mr Robinson.

Earlier this week, the DUP Lagan Valley MP, Jeffrey Donaldson slammed the 'deafening silence' from the UK Government the Revenue Commissioners after he was unable to get any confirmation over the likely taxation of one-off payments for former members of the RUC Part Time Reserve.

He said he feared they will be taxed - despite other payments to ex-RUC officers and Army (RIR) members being exempt.

Mr Donaldson - a former UDR soldier himself - said: "I believe the silence on this issue speaks volumes. There is simply no excuse as to why these payments will be taxed when other similar payments were exempt.

"It is clearly embarrassment which is behind this stonewall response from Westminster on the issue," he said.

"Since I and my colleagues first started to work on this issue and after finally securing the payments we have been absolutely clear that the Government should ensure they were not subject to tax.

"Unfortunately, there has not been a willingness to place the same provisions on these payments as were extended to others who served their community in Northern Ireland," he fumed.

Corporation Tax

However, there's no news as yet that a widely anticipated package of financial conditions have been agreed to allow for the devolution to Stormont of taxation powers in respect of corporation tax, which is a stated aim of the First Minister and his party.

It is thought this issue was on the agenda for a wide-ranging series of talks yesterday, which followed a meeting in No 10 Downing Street on Wednesday, where a senior Treasury official was on hand.

See: Decision 'Reserved' On Police Gratuity

See: Treasury Chief 'Taxed' By Number Ten Talks

(BMcC/KMcA)