§ 7. Mr. W. J. Brownasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that on Sunday, 30th January, officers and men of a certain company of the Home Guard were obliged, at a place of which he has been informed, to enter a gas chamber filled with D.M. gas, and there to take off their masks for two minutes, with the result that the whole company was affected by vomiting, retching and sickness; what purpose is served by practices of this kind; and whether he will cause them to cease.
Sir J. GriģģI understand that the training in question was of a form which is common to the whole Army and was conducted in strict accordance with the Regulations on the subject. It would be undesirable to omit this training, the purpose of which is to enable troops to recognise this type of gas and to give them confidence in the anti-gas equipment with which they are issued. I understand that only one man out of 63 complained of ill effects.
§ Mr. BrownIn view of what the right hon. Gentleman has said, would be consider shooting British soldiers in order to teach them that bullets are lethal?