§ 16. Mr. THURTLEasked the Secretary of State for War, if his department is experimenting with, or has in stock, any kind of poisonous gas with a view to its employment for offensive purposes?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Sir Laming Worthington-Evans)Research and experiment relating to defence against gas are directed towards the methods and appliances for individual and collective protection, and also towards the treatment of gas casualties. Research and experiment are primarily concerned with defence against gas, but it is essential, for the purpose of protection against gas, to investigate the possibilities of new gases and other forms of chemical warfare which might be illicitly employed against this country.
§ Mr. THURTLEIs the secondary reason for these experiments to discover how gas can be employed offensively?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI think that my answer is a very full one.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLIs it not only right that the Government should take steps to prevent the utilisation of gas by a possible enemy?