§ 2. Mr. H. G. WILLIAMSasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will furnish a report of the experiments made in the Punjab in the use of an irritant non-fatal gas for the control of rioting mobs; and what conclusions have been arrived at in consequence of these experiments?
§ Mr. BUTLERExperiments were made at the Punjab Police Training School early this year, as the result of which the Government of India have formed the 1306 opinion that tear gas would be a valuable weapon supplementary to the existing weapons possessed by the police for use in some, at any rate, of the circumstances which arise in dealing with riotous mobs and other forms of civil disturbance. At the request of the Government of India, further experiments are being carried out by the Punjab Government.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSHave the results of these experiments been placed at the disposal of various Government Departments?
§ Mr. BUTLERI do not know whether they have been placed at their disposal, but I am sure that if any Department wished to hear about them they would apply to us.
§ Mr. G. HARDIEIn the consideration of this class of gas, is the possibility taken into account that it may have effects which continue afterwards?
§ Mr. BUTLERI assure the hon. Member that all that sort of consideration has been borne in mind, and that that is why experiments are being made.
§ Mr. HARDIEMay I point out that it may be a very serious matter if it not only affects the eyes at the time but leaves some effect on the nerve control? Cases I saw arising out of the late War are still uncured.