§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is considering use of(a) water cannons and (b) CS gas by police forces; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydFollowing an evaluation of water cannon, my hon. Friend the Member for Grantham (Mr. Hogg) announced on 18 March 1987 at column 529 in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Sir M. McNair-Wilson) that it was not proposed to add water cannon to the range of equipment available to the police. That remains the position.
As the House was informed at the time, plastic baton rounds and CS equipment for use in dealing with serious public disorder were made available to police forces in Great Britain following the riots in 1981. My right hon. Friend announced the arrangements for supply of this equipment to police forces and the issue of guidelines covering its use in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Hind) on 19 May 1986 at columns 15 and 16.