asked the Minister for Defence if he will state what his proposals are concerning the gas masks issued by his Department to the general public in certain urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gas Masks.
Proposals regarding the future of the air raid precaution arrangements are at present under consideration. Pending a decision I am not in a position to make a statement concerning the gas masks issued to the general public.
I did not quite catch what the Minister said in the opening part of his reply. Did I understand him to say that he was going to make a statement later?
I said that: "Proposals regarding the future of air raid precaution arrangements are at present under consideration".
Could the Minister not make a brief statement as to whether people are to keep the civilian respirators or to hand them back? Careful people find it rather a nuisance to have to be looking after them, while careless people may already have injured or destroyed them.
In view of what has been said, will the Minister, in the case of people who may be nervous at the present moment that they may be fined for not being able to find them, assure them they will not?