§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 9 January 2002,Official Report, column 878W, how many plastic baton rounds have been (a) expended and (b) decommissioned at the end of their active lifespan; and what the maximum life is of a plastic baton round. [29943]
§ Jane KennedyThe Chief Constable advises me that:(a) During the period 1981 to 21 November 2001 a total of 41,839 baton rounds were discharged by the police.
(b) No L21 baton rounds have been decommissioned: they are not at the end of their life span. Stock rotation ensures that rounds nearing the expiry of their shelf life are used for training purposes only. The recommended shelf life of the current L21 baton rounds is 1.5 years.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 9 January 2002,Official Report, column 878W, by what process unspent plastic baton rounds are disposed of; what body carries out this function and at what cost; and what proportion of disposed pbrs leave the armoury in their original container as supplied. [29944]
§ Jane KennedyThe Chief Constable advises me that as operational stocks are recycled through training baton rounds are only disposed of when there has been an official change in the specification. In these circumstances the rounds are boxed in metal H83 containers which are inspected and sealed by the Army at no cost to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Baton rounds for disposal leave the Police Service of Northern Ireland in H83 metal ammunition boxes only. When handed over to the Army the rounds are removed from plastic 'outers' and are packed loose in bathes of 25. None of the original containers as supplied leave police premises.
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 9 January 2002,Official Report, column 878W, in what type of containers plastic baton rounds are supplied to the police. [29945]
§ Jane KennedyThe Chief Constable advises me that baton rounds are received by the police service of Northern Ireland in UN approved packaging. The packaging is reinforced cardboard boxes, marked UN 4G/Y23/S/99/GB/4031. Each box contains five clear plastic, custom made, carrying bags (GPL SPEC 2757).
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 9 January 2002,Official Report, column 878W, how and in what condition plastic baton rounds are stored (a) upon supply, (b) following distribution to barracks and (c) following issue to individual officers. [29946]
§ Jane KennedyThe Chief Constable advises me that:(a) Upon receipt by the police service of Northern Ireland baton rounds are stored in their original UN approved packaging within a temperature controlled and secure ammunition magazine.
525W(b) In preparation for distribution the baton rounds (still within their individual plastic carrying bags) are repackaged, in batches of 16, into metal ammunition boxes known as 'H83s'. The H83s are UN approved and carry the marking UN 4A1/Y19/S/90/GB/0355. On arrival at police stations it has been customary to remove the plastic outer bag within the H83 box. The boxes are stored in the police station armoury until required.
(c) Individual officers requiring access to baton rounds outside the police station are supplied with an H83 box for that purpose.