§ Major Macnamaraasked the Home Secretary whether he is satisfied that the towns of Chelmsford and Brentwood are now efficiently organised in air-raid precautions; and whether there is adequate protection for their populations in the event of air attack?
§ Mr. LloydThe County Council of Essex, which is the statutory scheme making authority, has not yet submitted a general precautions scheme under the Act; but I am informed that in Chelmsford, where an Air-Raid Precautions Organiser was appointed some two months ago, the training of volunteers is making good progress and that a similar appointment is just about to be made in Brentwood. As regards the fire brigade schemes, the statutory scheme making authorities are the Borough Council of Chelmsford and the Urban District Council of Brentford. Neither of these authorities has yet submitted a fire brigade scheme but in the case of Chelmsford I understand that a scheme will be submitted shortly and meanwhile a number of men are being recruited.
2058W
§ Mr. C. Wilsonasked the Home Secretary whether he can state the main differences between a civilian respirator, a civilian-duty respirator, and a service respirator; and give a list showing which gases each kind will or will not keep out?
§ Mr. LloydThe differences between the three types of respirator arise from the fact that they have been designed to meet varying requirements. The civilian respirator protects the wearer against breathing any of the known war gases, and is intended to be used on occasions when gas is present and a gas-protected room or refuge is not available or has to be evacuated. The civilian duty respirator has been designed for members of civil air-raid precautions services and others who might be called upon to carry out their normal duties in the presence of gas but are not likely to be continuously exposed to the highest concentrations. The service respirator is the pattern of respirator issued to the fighting services: the protection it affords is of the same kind as in the case of the civilian and civilian duty respirators, but the duration of its efficiency is longer and it has been designed to allow the wearer the greatest possible freedom of movement and the maximum use of his faculties.
All these respirators will give protection against all types of gas which are likely to be used as war gases.
§ Mr. C. Wilsonasked the Home Secretary whether he can explain how it is that the civilian respirator, which has been designed to give fully satisfactory protection against all types of gas which are likely to be used as war gases, does not protect against coal gas, exhaust gases from motor cars, gases from sewers or drains, petrol vapour in confined spaces, ammonia, or similar toxic and noxious gases and vapours?
§ Mr. LloydThe civilian respirator has not been designed to give protection against gases other than those likely to be used in war. Industrial respirators of special design and construction are needed against the other cases referred to and in many cases such respirators are limited to use against the particular gas for which they have been designed.
§ Mr. C. Wilsonasked the Home Secretary whether each person having a gas 2059W mask is to be provided with an anti-dim outfit free of charge or, if not, by what means is the anti-dimming to be secured?
§ Mr. LloydThe recommended method of preventing the misting over of the eyepiece of the civilian respirator is by the use of ordinary toilet soap rubbed over the inside of the eye-piece with a wet finger.
Captain Grahamasked the First Commissioner of Works what steps he is taking to provide, wherever possible, adequate shelter for the artistic treasures of the nation in picture galleries, museums, and elsewhere, against the effect of incendiary or high-explosive bombs from enemy aircraft, and against their being looted in a panic so created?
§ Sir P. SassoonSchemes for the protection of exhibits in various National Museums and Galleries have been prepared. Accommodation in the buildings offering the best security against air attack has been selected and various works to strengthen the structure of this selected accommodation have either been carried out, or will shortly be put in hand. A scheme has also been worked out whereby, if circumstances permit, part of the contents would be removed and dispersed elsewhere. The fire-fighting facilities in all museums and galleries have been reviewed, and steps are being taken to supply additional equipment.