§ 38. Mr. Ian Winterbottomasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence what special inducements are offered to persuade service men to take part in dangerous experimental work, such as research into nerve gases.
§ Mr. BirchVolunteers for special types of experimental work, including chemical warfare research, are paid certain sums of money which vary between the different kinds of experiments. This extra pay is normally at the rate of between 10s. and 15s. a week.
§ Mr. WinterbottomWhile recognising the services rendered by these men to the country, may I ask whether the Parliamentary Secretary is satisfied that when National Service men volunteer their offer of service should be accepted? Would he not agree that, since many of them are under age, their status is different from that of a man who is making the Services his career?
§ Mr. BirchThe men are volunteers and the nature of the experiment is clearly explained to them and they are then given a chance to withdraw. There has been only one fatal accident since 1922.