Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce measures to ban the firing of baton rounds by the security forces, in view of the findings of the jury in the inquest into the death of Stephen McConomy.
Mr. PriorI have examined the findings of this inquest. I remain of the view that, in the absence of a better or equally effective method of not control, plastic baton rounds should continue to be available for use by the security forces in the face of serious rioting. Their use is strictly controlled.