§ 8. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many new-type respirators are being issued for members of the police, fire-brigade and civil defence services; and when the distribution of these respirators will be completed.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeIssues of respirators are at present confined to what is necessary for training. Members of the police, fire brigades and civil defence corps are already being trained in the use of respirators of the kind needed for their active duties. The new type respirators are for use by the general public and as soon as supplies are available issues will be made on the scale needed for giving the civil defence corps the training necessary to enable them to instruct the public.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonDoes that reply mean that when all the services referred to in the Question have been provided with the new type respirators a further issue will be made to the general public, most or many of whom are still holding on to the respirators issued during the last war?
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeThe respirators that were used in the last war are effective for their purpose, but they are not so comfortable as the new type. As I have tried to indicate to the hon. and gallant Gentleman, we are pressing on first of all to get an issue for those who will train the public, but we have this other point well in mind.