HC Deb 03 March 1997 vol 291 c463W
Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times water cannons have been used by police forces in Britain since 1967; for what reasons they were used; on what dates they were used; in what places they were used; and if police forces are currently authorised to use water cannons. [17949]

Mr. Maclean

Water cannons have never been used by police forces in England, Wales or Scotland. It is for chief police officers to decide what public order equipment to deploy and how to authorise its deployment.