§ Sir P. Dawsonasked the Home Secretary why, during the past two years, British fire brigade authorities have been unable to obtain either thermite or electron incendiary bombs for practising in methods of fire extinction or carrying out 1350W research on new methods of fire extinction; if he is aware that the instruction bombs made at the Royal Arsenal were a failure, but notwithstanding they were issued to some 60 fire brigades; that there are private firms in this country who can supply practice bombs; and that a large number of varied types are manufactured in Germany which, pending the production of satisfactory practice bombs in this country, were not allowed to be used; and what is being done to remedy this unsatisfactory state of affairs?
§ Mr. LloydIt is not the case that fire brigades generally have been without supplies of practice electron bombs. Five hundred such bombs were issued to brigades in October, 1937, but some brigades have been awaiting a demonstration before using them. None of the bombs issued were manufactured at Woolwich Arsenal but a few of them were filled there. The bombs were quite effective when properly used. The bombs referred to in the question as supplied by private firms come mainly from abroad: they do not approximate in performance to the electron bomb which it is desired to demonstrate, and it would not be satisfactory to use them as their effects would be liable to be misleading. Further practice electron bombs are now being issued to fire brigades. A satisfactory air-raid precautions practice incendiary bomb for training purposes was approved in January last and is being made in this country.