The RUC will decide if Sinn Fein members qualify for British government grants to pay for home protection, the Northern Secretary, Dr Mowlam, has announced.
In a statement yesterday she rejected speculation that Sinn Fein members could qualify for personal protection grants without RUC officers carrying out the security-risk assessments deemed necessary for all applicants.
However, she confirmed that the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, on the instruction of the Northern Ireland Office, would carry out site surveys on some of the homes.
This could effectively remove the necessity for the police to visit the homes of Sinn Fein leaders, such as the party's president, Mr Gerry Adams, and senior negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness.
A Sinn Fein spokesman said this week that many party members would be eligible for the scheme and that the NIHE would inspect their homes rather than RUC officers. Security sources suggest that up to 30 members of the party would be eligible for the Key Persons Protection Scheme.
But Dr Mowlam insisted recent press speculation that changes were made to the criteria for entry to the scheme to facilitate Sinn Fein members was incorrect.
"The underpinning entry criterion for all applications to the scheme remains a threat risk assessment by the RUC which shows an individual to be under a serious or significant threat," she added.
The decision to include Sinn Fein was criticised by the Northern Ireland Unionist Party leader, Mr Cedric Wilson, who described Dr Mowlam's statement as "a paper tiger".
"By excluding RUC officers from on-site visits to republicans' homes, she is not only allowing Sinn Fein to dictate the RUC's role in the scheme but she is giving credence to their scurrilous attack on the force."
Mr Wilson also said he opposed the use of taxpayers' money being spent on republicans who he claimed were responsible for "heinous crimes" against members of the security forces and civilians.