§ Mr. MaginnisTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what have been the results of recent studies into the feasibility of providing an effective alternative to plastic baton rounds for use in crowd control situations in Northern Ireland; and what have been the costs of these studies in the last 10 years. [144690]
§ Mr. Ingram[pursuant to his reply, 8 February 2001, c. 679W]Phase one of the research programme aimed at finding an acceptable, effective and less potentially lethal alternative to the plastic baton round has now been completed. I have today placed a copy of the Report, and26W a letter my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has issued to Northern Ireland party leaders, in the Library of the House.