Home Secretary Theresa May has been accused of "equivocating" over whether the government will give the police permission to use water cannon to deal with violent protesters.

In a Commons statement on 13 December 2010, she the condemned as "appalling" the violence resulting in acts of vandalism in the streets around Parliament and police being attacked with missiles as MPs voted last week to raise the cap on tuition fees for England's universities to as much as £9,000.

Shadow home secretary Ed Balls asked her for information on guidance issued to police on the use of water cannon or rubber bullets.

Mrs May said she had not suggested the use of rubber bullets and added that water cannon had "yet to be approved" for police use by the Home Office.

It was for police chiefs to decide what approved equipment was used, agreed with police authorities or, in future, elected police and crime commissioners.

But she added: "I do not think anybody wants to see water cannon used on the streets of Britain because we have... a different attitude to the culture of policing here in the UK. We police by consent and it depends on that trust between the police and the public.

"There is a range of measures available to the police and in relation to water cannon I do not think it's needed."

Labour's Chris Bryant said: "The home secretary seems to be equivocating a bit on the question of water cannon.

"She said that they were not legal yet, as if she was implying that she might be persuaded to change her mind."

He told MPs that water cannon could cause serious injury, including blindness, urging Mrs May directly to "rule out" their use.

The home secretary repeated: "I do not think that any of us want to see water cannon being used on the streets of England and Wales."

Responding to speculation that the Duchess of Cornwall was struck through the window of the royal Rolls-Royce during the disorder last Thursday, Mrs May confirmed that there was "some contact made" and added that an urgent review of the Royal Family's protection on the night would report by Friday 17 December.

Mrs May also said 2,800 police officers were involved in Thursday's operation. The violence left more than 30 of them injured.

Six police officers had required hospital treatment but all had now been discharged, she added.

A total of 43 protesters were injured, with the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigating an incident that left 20-year-old student Alfie Meadows needing brain surgery.

Mrs May said it would not be appropriate to comment on the case until the IPCC investigation had been completed.