Mr. I. O. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any further statement to 2700W make about collecting gas masks from the general public.
§ Mr. EdeYes, Sir. I propose through the agency of local authorities and as opportunity offers to collect for storage certain of the specially bulky types, such as babies', hospital and helmet respirators, together with those issued to young children. In view, however, of the calls upon much-needed storage space, labour and transport, and the additional wear and tear involved in handling and packing if the ordinary civilian respirators now in the hands of the public were collected for central storage, the Government has decided to continue to entrust these articles to the custody of the public and to repeat the appeal that the public will take proper care of them lest these respirators should ever be needed again. Properly looked after, the masks will be serviceable for some years longer and, taken in conjunction with the very substantial quantities still un issued which are held in specially designed stores, they should pro vide an adequate emergency reserve for the country until the time comes to re view the question afresh.