§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for War (1) what part the Chemical Defence Research Establishment is playing in the production and testing of nerve gases;
(2) which of his departments is mainly responsible for the production of nerve gas; and for how long this production process has been in existence.
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§ Mr. SoamesThe Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment is responsible for all research on defence against chemical warfare agents, including the testing of nerve gases. The production of such gases is in laboratory quantities, sufficient for testing only. The basic production processes date from the last war.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for War to what extent Her Majesty's Government has produced and tested antidotes to the known nerve gases of other countries.
§ Mr. SoamesAntidotes to the known nerve gases have been developed at the Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment, and details have been published in scientific journals.
§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet finalised arrangements for a number of Members of Parliament to visit the Chemical Defence Research Establishment and other research centres where experiments with nerve gases are being carried out.
§ Mr. SoamesI have no such request under consideration.