§ Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to warn the public about the possibility that surplus Government chemical war-far vapour detection kits which have been on sale in shops as Dr. Who Kits contain yellow tablets of the carcinogenic class; how long the Government have been aware of this possibility; what action his Department has taken about it; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John Morris:The fact that certain of the tablets contained in vapour detection kits had carcinogenic properties became known to the Ministry of Defence in July, 1966. The firm to whom sales had been made in January, 1966, was informed and co-operated by agreeing to remove the tablets concerned from kits before resale. Instructions were also issued that no further sales were to be made. All surplus stocks remaining were destroyed. I understand that local police in the area have since drawn the attention of medical officers of health to the possible hazards involved.