§ Mr. Bartlettasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that many doctors and others engaged in essential air-raid precautions work are without steel helmets and service respirators; and will he do his best to have this handicap removed as soon as possible?
Mr. M. MacDonaldSteel helmets have been issued to local authorities and to hospital authorities for the use of doctors attached to first-aid posts or casualty hospitals whose work may take them out of doors during a raid and arrangements are at present in hand for increasing this allocation. Further arrangements are in hand for making helmets available to all1150W doctors as soon as the supply position permits. Civilian duty respirators have also been issued in sufficient numbers, for use by staffs attached to hospitals and first-aid posts. Service respirators are not available for these staffs. As regards Civil Defence volunteers generally, the provision of steel helmets is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Home Security.