Written question asked by Kevin McNamara (Labour) on Monday, 24 May 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 7 July 2004. It was answered by Adam Ingram (Labour) on Wednesday, 7 July 2004 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service personnel serving in Iraq have been trained in the use of plastic baton rounds.

Answer: Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Service personnel serving in Iraq have been trained in the use of plastic baton rounds. [176090] Mr. Ingram: Before deployment to Operation Telic all major units are subject to pre-deployment training and undergo a special weapons course, which includes training in the use of plastic baton rounds. From this training, further training is given in Iraq, as required. It is therefore not possible to give a precise figure on numbers of personnel who have been trained in the use of plastic baton rounds. Only those trained in the use of the baton rounds are permitted to use them on operations.

Secondary information