asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures if he will state the amount set aside for A.R.P. work for year ending March 31st, 1940; the total amount paid to date covering (a) salaries and wages and (b) materials purchased; also if he will state particulars of the total amount already claimed by local authorities and the amount sanctioned for payment to such bodies to date.
Written Answers. - A.R.P.
The sum included in the estimates of the Department of Defence for the year 1939-40 under the heading Protection of Civil Population against air and gas attack is £34,554. The total amount paid to date since the inception of A.R.P. measures in respect of the salaries of the staff in the Department of Defence entirely devoted to A.R.P. duties is, approximately, £8,000. The total sum expended to date by the Minister for Defence on A.R.P. equipment and stores is £96,997. The expenditure by local authorities in respect of which grant has been claimed amounts to £24,880 and the payment of grant is under consideration.
asked the Minister for Coordination of Defensive Measures if he will state the total number of respirators already purchased for the protection of the civilian population, together with the cost of them; also the total number already issued for use under the A.R.P. scheme.
The total number of respirators so far purchased by the Minister for Defence for the protection of the civilian population is 500,000. These respirators, which cost £72,000, are at present held in store by the Department of Defence and no issues have been made to the public.