Written question asked by Kevin McNamara (Labour) on Tuesday, 10 April 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 8 May 2001. It was answered by Lord Spellar (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 May 2001 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his Answer of 2nd April, 366 c68W on baton rounds, if he will place in the Library (a) the outline plan of the technical assessment drawn up by DERA, Porton Down and endorsed by the DSAC, (b) the results of firing trials and impact modelling used to compare the performance of the L5A7 and L21A1 baton rounds and (c) studies conducted on post ricochet trajectories and energy of L21A2 baton rounds, indicating what the probability of impact to the (i) upper torso and (ii) head is, and what the cause of inaccuracy in the L21A1 delivery system was at the 40 metre range. - Inc fact that copy of independent medical assessment placed in Library, and withholding the documents themselves in accordance with exemptions 2 and 11 of the code of practice on access to Government information.

Answer: Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 April 2001, Official Report, column 68W on baton rounds, if he will place in the Library (a) the outline plan of the technical assessment drawn up by DERA, Porton Down and endorsed by the DSAC, (b) the results of firing trials and impact modelling used to compare the performance of the L5A7 and L21A1 baton rounds and (c) studies conducted on post ricochet trajectories and energy of L21A2 baton rounds, indicating what the probability of impact to the (i) upper torso and (ii) head is, and what the cause of inaccuracy in the L21A1 delivery system was at the 40 metre range. [158538] Mr. Spellar: I have been asked to reply. As my hon. Friend will be aware, a copy of an independent medical assessment of the new baton round was placed in the Library on 2 April. The key conclusions of the documents requested can be found in this report. I am withholding the documents themselves in accordance with exemptions 2 and 11 of the code of practice on access to Government information which relate respectively to internal discussion and advice and to incomplete analysis. The problem of inaccuracy at 40m was discovered during tests and addressed by a change to the gun zeroing policy.

Secondary information