Mr. Jenkinsasked the Home Secretary whether he can now say what grant is to be paid to local authorities on expenditure incurred in connection with air raid precautions?
§ Mr. LloydI regret that I am unable to add anything to the reply which I gave to a number of questions on this subject on 8th April, but I can assure the hon. Member that there will be no avoidable delay in coming to a conclusion.
§ Miss Wilkinsonasked the Home Secretary whether he has seen the reports of the new gas mask to be made available by the German Government for their population; whether the claim that, as no chemicals are employed, this mask can be used indefinitely has been investigated by his experts; and whether the Home Office is trying similar appliances in this country?
§ Mr. LloydI have seen descriptions in the Press of a respirator which is to be sold to the German public, but no statement that this respirator would afford protection for an indefinite period has been1386W brought to my notice. Research is constantly being carried out into methods of gas filtration, and any developments in this field are carefully investigated.