§ Ms. ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many plastic bullets have been fired each year since they first came into use in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Ian StewartSince the introduction of plastic baton rounds in 1973, the security forces have fired 54,234 (to 31 October 1988). The annual figures are:
Numbers of plastic baton rounds fired Year Number 1973 42 1974 216 1975 3,556 1976 3,464 1977 1,490 1978 1,743 1979 1,271 1980 1,231 1981 29,695 1982 500 1983 661 1984 1,768 1985 1,172 1986 1,785 1987 2,575 1988 1 3,065 54,234 1 to 31 October 1988