HC Deb 17 December 1936 vol 318 cc2610-1
28. Mr. De CHAIR

asked the Home Secretary whether the gas masks to be supplied to the civilian population in the event of war guarantee immunity against carbon monoxide and highly-dispersed arsenical smokes, respectively?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd)

The civilian respirator protects against highly-dispersed arsenical smokes. It does not protect against carbon monoxide, but I am advised that carbon monoxide could not be used as a war gas.

Mr. De CHAIR

Can the Under-Secretary say why carbon monoxide could not be used for war purposes?

Mr. LLOYD

One of the main reasons is the low temperature at which carbon monoxide becomes a liquid.