41. Mr. MALONEasked the Prime Minister whether the Government have received information to the effect that the War Department at Washington has ordered the discontinuance of the manufacture of poison gas; whether Britain is spending £169,700 this year on preparing gas-warfare as compared with £53,870 two years ago and whether, with a view to bringing British policy into harmony with the Bill based on Article V of the Treaty signed at Washington on 6th February, recently passed by this House, the Government will discontinue the manufacture of poison gas in this country?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Government understand that the War Department at Washington has recently ordered 20 the discontinuance of the manufacture of poison gas for the purpose of equipping the United States Army for waging gas warfare, but that at same time Congress has sanctioned the continuation of research and experimental work in connection with poison gas. Our proposed expenditure for 1922–23 is as stated. This is to allow for research and experimental work in connection with protective measures against gas attack. We have discontinued the manufacture of poison gas in this country since the Armistice, except in small quantities necessary for such research and experiment.