§ Mr. Roseasked the Minister for State for Defence whether he will seek to import the new safer rubber bullets from Spain now being used by the Spanish police.
§ Mr. BlakerNo. My Department maintains a close interest in new riot-control devices, but I have no reason to believe that the missile reportedly being provided for the Spanish security forces would he suitable for use in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Minister of State for Defence how many fatalities or other major or minor injuries have been caused by rubber bullets in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. BlakerI am advised that comprehensive figures cannot be provided because people who receive injuries in332W riot situations do not necessarily attend hospital.
However, a report produced by surgeons in Northern Ireland last year mentioned two persons killed; 17 with permanent disfigurements or disabilities; and 23 others requiring hospital admission, making a total of 40 with substantial injuries; and 49 who attended as out-patients.
The report also compared the number of casualties with the number of rubber bullets which had had to be fired in riot situations during the period under review, which amounted to 33,000.