asked the Prime Minister whether the scheme which has been prepared for the protection of the civil population against poison gas in future warfare will now be submitted to the local authorities in order that arrangements may be commenced for training the necessary personnel, as has already been done in other countries?

As I indicated to the hon. Member on the 12th February, the problem of the protection of the civil population against gas attack is being closely studied in all its aspects. Further work, however, remains to be done before any scheme can usefully be communicated to the local authorities.