§ Mr. AshdownTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times plastic bullets have been used since they came into use; what were the circumstances at each incident; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe information requested by the right hon. Member has been held in the Library since August 1984. Details of incidents prior to this period are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
I am writing to the hon. Member with the information for 1988, in which 3,109 plastic baton rounds were fired and I shall place a copy of my letter in the Library. The higher number of plastic baton rounds fired during 1988 than in 1987 was largely in response to widespread rioting in West Belfast during March and August.