§ 81. Sir Francis Fremantleasked the Minister of Health whether he is now providing for the annual health returns from county and local authorities to distinguish between those of evacuated persons in reception and neutral areas and those of the true popuation of such areas?
§ Mr. ElliotNo, Sir. I should be unwilling in present circumstances to impose additional requirements upon local authorities in making these returns, and the forms used in previous years have in fact been modified with a view to saving work to local authorities. Moreover, other movements of population than that of persons officially evacuated under the Government evacuation scheme have taken, and are taking, place; and I think it would be difficult, if not impossible, to determine what should be regarded as the true population of an area.
§ Sir F. FremantleWill not this vitiate the whole series of extremely important statistics so far as the Ministry is concerned?
§ Mr. ElliotIt is true that it will make them more difficult to interpret.