§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what has been the expenditure on the provision of anti-gas apparatus for the personnel of the Royal Navy for each year since 1919; and whether, with a view to the elimination of this expenditure, he will take steps to ascertain whether any foreign navies are equipping their fleets with means for employing poisonous gas as an offensive weapon?
Mr. ALEXANDERThe expenditure on gas-masks for the Fleet has averaged rather more than £30,000 a year over the period mentioned, and is expected to be a little less than £30,000 a year in future. As regards the possibility of eliminating this expenditure, I would refer the hon. Member to the full discussion on the subject which took place at Geneva in April, 1929, and which is published in League Document C.195, M.74, dated 25th May, 1929.