§ 43. Mr. Dayasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will state, from experiments made by the experts of his Department, the length of time the gas mask which has been issued for the protection of the civilian population will give immunity and protection against the highest concentration of gas likely to be encountered; and whether he is satisfied that the materials used are amply robust for the purpose required?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe general civilian respirator provides protection for several exposures to the highest concentration of gas likely to be encountered in war-time 590 conditions. The actual length of time for which the respirator would remain effective would depend in part on the nature of the gas used, and cannot be precisely stated. Trials have demonstrated that, provided the necessary care is taken of the respirator both in store and after issue, the materials used in its construction are amply robust for the purposes for which it is designed.
§ Mr. DayAre we to understand that all the respirators that have now been supplied to the population comply with all those conditions?
§ Sir J. AndersonNo, Sir. That is partly the reason I am at present engaged in accumulating a central reserve from which respirators that have become damaged or unserviceable can be replaced?
§ Mr. DayAre we to understand, in view of the expert opinion of one of the Home Office officials, that many of the respirators issued are of no use?
§ Sir J. AndersonSome must in the course of time become unserviceable, and provision must be made to replace them.
§ 49. Mr. W. Robertsasked the Lord Privy Seal which counties in England have not yet received supplies of respirators in adequate numbers to supply the majority of the population?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe counties in England to which full supplies of respirators have not yet been delivered are Cornwall, Cumberland, Devonshire and Gloucestershire.
§ Mr. RobertsHas the right hon. Gentleman under consideration the issue of further supplies to Cumberland, in view of the fact that in the West, which is a less dangerous part of Cumberland, there is a complete supply, and in view of the fact that a very large number of aerodromes and other defence works are being created in and around Carlisle at the present time?
§ Sir J. AndersonSpecial steps were taken some time ago to complete the delivery of respirators in the most vulnerable portions of those counties. As regards the less vulnerable areas, I thought it better to proceed to accumulate a substantial central reserve rather than to proceed at once to the distribution of the number of respirators still needed to complete the process in those areas.
§ Lieut.-Commander AgnewIs my right hon. Friend aware that in the largest urban and industrial area of Cornwall, there is still a great deficiency of all kinds of A.R.P. equipment, and can he hasten the supplies?
§ Sir J. AndersonWe are doing everything possible to hasten the supply of equipment, but as the House will understand, it will necessarily take some time before the full amount contemplated by the Government programme can be available.