§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will review the use of plastic bullets in Northern Ireland; what disciplinary action has been taken against Royal Ulster Constabulary over the firing of plastic bullets; and if he will undertake a review of the numbers of people who have received injuries from plastic bullets, and the occasions on which the RUC has fired in breach of the existing rules relating to the use of baton rounds. [38960]
§ Sir John Wheeler[holding answer 23 July 1996]: Plastic bullets are not used in Northern Ireland.
On the question of a review of the use of plastic baton rounds, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Mr. Maginnis).
Allegations of breaches of the existing rules in respect of the use of baton rounds are treated as complaints against the police and are subject to thorough investigation. Statistics show that since 1990 no RUC officer has been the subject of disciplinary action as a result of the firing of a plastic baton round.