HC Deb 08 June 1939 vol 348 cc589-91
43. Mr. Day

asked 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. Anderson

The general civilian respirator provides protection for several exposures to the highest concentration of gas likely to be encountered in war-time 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. Day

Are we to understand that all the respirators that have now been supplied to the population comply with all those conditions?

Sir J. Anderson

No, 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. Day

Are 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. Anderson

Some must in the course of time become unserviceable, and provision must be made to replace them.

49. Mr. W. Roberts

asked 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. Anderson

The counties in England to which full supplies of respirators have not yet been delivered are Cornwall, Cumberland, Devonshire and Gloucestershire.

Mr. Roberts

Has 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. Anderson

Special 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 Agnew

Is 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. Anderson

We 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.

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