Defence written question – answered at on 11 February 2003.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what supplies of filter cannisters for gas masks are available; and whether there are sufficient stocks to replace all time-expired cannisters.
holding answer
For troops deployed on Operation TELIC, some 180,000 in-life filter canisters for gas masks have been issued. Further stocks are held in reserve and more will be ordered. The canisters were originally designed with a 10-year shelf life. Extensive testing (carried out in 1998) enabled us to extend the life to 15 years. Our oldest stocks were manufactured in 1991 and will not therefore expire until 2006. No soldier will commence operations with time-expired canisters.
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