§ 55. Mr. Vernon Bartlettasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in order to lessen the danger of loss or damage, he will rescind the order that gas masks must be carried until a deterioration in the war situation makes it more clearly advisable that they should be carried?
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Sir John Anderson)An official announcement on this matter was made towards the end of last week, but I am glad to have this opportunity of giving it further publicity. So far as concerns persons living or working in evacuation or neutral areas, nothing in the present situation warrants any relaxation of the precaution, to which people are now well accustomed, of carrying their gas masks with them always, except in circumstances which would admit of their getting back in a few minutes to the place where their gas masks are kept. Those who are living in reception areas, however, where the risk is substantially less and the conditions of life and work may easily render gas masks more liable to damage from exposure to the weather, need not, under present conditions, feel 502 under the same necessity to keep their gas masks always with them.
§ Mr. BartlettWill the Minister bear in mind that in many reception areas or safe areas people are turned away from places of entertainment, and so on, unless they are carrying their gas masks, and does not this give additional inconvenience and worry to people who already have enough worries on their hands?
§ Sir J. AndersonI am not aware of the circumstances mentioned by the hon. Gentleman, but I will make an inquiry.
§ Mr. Charles WilliamsIs it necessary for school children in remote places like the West Coast of Scotland and in Cornwall to take gas masks with them everywhere they go?
§ Sir J. AndersonI think my answer has made the matter perfectly clear.
§ Mr. SorensenWould the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is clear that there is no order at all that gas masks should be carried and that there is no legal obligation for doing so?
§ Sir J. AndersonNo order has been given, but it has been strongly advised.
§ Mr. MacquistenIs the right hon Gentleman not aware that a remote part of Scotland is the only place where there has been an air attack?
73. Mr. D. M. Adamsasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that there is a shortage of both service and civilian respirators for those who are engaged in Civil Defence; and what steps are being taken to remedy this shortage?
§ Sir J. AndersonAuthorities generally have already received a substantial proportion of their maximum requirements and further supplies are coming forward well.
Mr. AdamsIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that 30 per cent. and 40 per cent. respectively of the two different gasmasks were deficient up to Monday last, and that the first-aid stations are without the necessary respirators?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe scale of distribution varies according to the vulnerability of the area, and the figures given are not valid generally.
Mr. AdamsIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Millwall is considered one of the worst areas in London?
§ Sir J. AndersonMillwall is not mentioned in the question, but I will make special inquiries.