§ Mr. S. Marshallasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now give instructions for civilian gas masks to be collected by local authorities or otherwise disposed of.
§ Mr. EdeI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 6th December, 1945, to the hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mr. I. O. Thomas). With a view to meeting the convenience of holders, arrangements for the collection of the bulkier types, viz., babies' helmet and hospital respirators, and those issued to young children are proceeding as quickly as is possible with the limited transport and labour facilities available to the local authorities. May I use this occasion to appeal to members of the public who still hold these types to free their own storage space and assist the work of collection by handing them in to their local authority? Ordinary civilian respirators, however, must remain entrusted to the custody of the public, who should take proper care of these articles lest they should ever be needed again.