§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Brent, 215W East on 25 February, Official Report, c. 474, how many injuries have been caused by baton rounds in Northern Ireland; and if he will break the figures down to show the numbers of injuries and fatalities using (a) 25-grain charges, and (b) 45-grain charges in each year since these weapons were first used in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. WigginThe investigation of all reports of allegations of injury caused by baton rounds is a matter for the RUC. My Department therefore does not have a record of such cases.
§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Brent, East on 25 February, Official Report, c. 474, how many baton rounds have been discharged by the Army in Northern Ireland since they began to be used there; and if he will break the figures down to show the number of (a) 25-grain charges, and (b) 45-grain charges for each year.
§ Mr. WigginBetween 1 August 1970 and 31 December 1980 a total of 68,847 baton rounds were discharged in the Province by both the Army and the RUC. Records do not show the breakdown of numbers fired by the Army alone. Between 1 January 1981 and 28 February 1982 a total of 10,069 baton rounds were discharged by the Army. Information on the breakdown between 25-grain and 45-grain charges is available from 1 April 1981 onwards. Between 1 April 1981 and 31 December 1981, 9,466 25-grain charge baton rounds and 277 45-grain charge rounds were fired by the Army. The comparable figures for the period 1 January to 28 February 1982 are 23 and none respectively.