§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the armed forces(a) first and (b) last used rubber bullets in Northern Ireland; in which years since 1968 they used rubber bullets in Northern Ireland; how many rubber bullets they used in Northern Ireland in each of those years; and how many rubber bullets they have used in Northern Ireland since 1968. [60334]
§ Mr. George RobertsonThe Armed Forces and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) first used rubber bullets in 1970 and last used them in 1975. The number of bullets used in Northern Ireland in each of those years is set out in the table:
Year Number 1970 238 1971 16,752 1972 23,363 1973 12,724 1974 2,612 1975 145 Total 55,834 The records relating to rubber bullets used in Northern Ireland were maintained manually and to retrieve and split the information between the Armed Forces and the RUC would, even if possible, involve disproportionate costs.
In 1973 plastic baton rounds were introduced and eventually replaced rubber bullets completely in 1976.