69. Mr. W. Joseph Stewartasked the Minister of Health whether it is the intention of the Government to establish any school camps in the county of Durham, and, if so, when and where?
§ Mr. ElliotNo school camps are being established in the county of Durham under the Camps Act of 1939—camps have been, as the hon. Member will be aware, established in County Durham with the assistance of grants under previous legislation. The question whether further camps should be built and, if so, on what lines and in what localities, will be reviewed as soon as experience has been gained of the working of the present scheme.
Mr. StewartCan the right hon. Gentleman say why the allocation of these camps does not include places where camps are needed and where there are many admirable sites?
§ Mr. ElliotBecause camps had already been built in County Durham on a previous occasion under previous legislation.
§ Miss WilkinsonSurely the Minister knows that the camps already built in County Durham are utterly inadequate in view of the difficulties in small houses of providing proper accommodation for evacuees?
§ Mr. ElliotIt is impossible, as I have already explained, that the whole of the evacuation scheme could be carried out on a camp basis.
§ Mr. HicksAs the money found for these camps is now practically exhausted, and as they are so popular, will the Minister consider the advisability of asking the House to vote further money in order to extend these camps?
§ Mr. ElliotAs I say, the question of building further camps will be reviewed, but we must first have experience of the working of the present scheme.
§ 71. Mr. Manderasked the Minister of Health the number of children for whom arrangements have been made to occupy each of the camps built by the National Camps Corporation, Limited, which have a capacity for 350?
§ Mr. ElliotFor the more permanent occupation of national camps in time of war, it has been decided to convert one of the dormitories into additional classrooms. This reduces the capacity of a camp from 350 to 290. Three camps have recently been occupied, one to capacity, the other two by 240 and 250 children respectively. It is intended that all these three should eventually be occupied to capacity. The numbers of children who will occupy further camps cannot be known until the final arrangements have been made in each case. I may add that while in the initial stages, schools may be allowed to start with comparatively low figures, it is the policy of the Government to make the fullest use of these camps.