§ Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any predictions of likely death and injury rates were made before plastic bullets were introduced; and what these predictions were for this weapon.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownI have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend on 21st January 1977—[Vol. 934. c. 331.]
§ Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any efforts are made to collect information on injuries caused by plastic and rubber bullets.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownMy hon. Friend will be aware of the efforts made by surgeons in Northern Ireland which led to the report published in theBritish Journal of Surgery in 1975. The Ministry of Defence holds information on injuries for which damages have been claimed and, up to the present time, some 66 claims have been received alleging injuries by rubber or plastic baton rounds.
§ Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what injuries were caused to the sheep used at Porton to test rubber bullets by the impact of the bullets;
(2) what injuries were caused to the sheep used at Porton to test plastic bullets by the impact of the bullets.
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§ Mr. Robert C. BrownInanimate targets have been used to the maximum degree in assessing the effects of plastic baton rounds, but to assist in the treatment of any injury that might be caused experiments involving live sheep have taken place. Injuries ranging from superficial bruising to more serious effects have resulted.
All the sheep have been anaesthetised before use and not allowed to regain consciousness. The experiments have been carried out in full conformity with the requirements of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876.