§ 18. Captain PLUGGEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is the practice when an officer or man retires from the Royal Navy for his gas mask to be retained by the authorities; and whether, in view of the fact that these masks are specially fitted, he will consider the desirability of allowing them to be kept by the retired officers and men so that there will be no need for them to be provided with masks from other sources and that they may help in showing civilians how gas masks should be used?
§ The CIVIL LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Kenneth Lindsay)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Gas masks are, however, made in standard sizes requiring minor adjustment only for individual fitting and, on return, are promptly put back into service. It would not, therefore, be worth the expense to allow wearers to retain their masks on retirement or discharge, especially as the naval pattern necessarily differs considerably from that required for civilian use.