To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many plastic baton rounds were fired between 1 and 14 July in (a) 1996 and (b) 1997; and if she will make a statement [11067]

In response to the widespread and serious public disorder during these periods, the number of plastic baton rounds fired between 1 and 14 July 1996 was 8,098 and in the same period in 1997 was 2,510, although the figures for 1997 may be subject to adjustment.