HC Deb 18 May 1972 vol 837 c678
23. Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to equipping Her Majesty's forces with CS and other gases and defoliants for use in warfare.

Lord Balniel

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 27th March by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.—[Vol. 834, c. 11–12.]

Mr. Jenkins

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that those answers are entirely unsatisfactory because they fail to give any information? As the object of Question Time is to get information, why conceal it? Will the right hon. Gentleman think again about this and take the view that we should be given a little more information with regard to what is happening about the equipment of British forces in this respect?

Lord Balniel

I think that the hon. Gentleman should study the answers, which are remarkably informative considering the nature of the Questions.