§ 6. Mr. G. Straussasked the Secretary of State for War whether a decision has now been made in regard to permitting the evacuation of certain types of cases, not at present in the schedule, to some part of the banned area; and whether, in exceptional cases, chief constables will be given authority to permit their entry into any part of the banned area.
§ 9 and 10. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for War (1) if he will permit parents, particularly elderly persons living alone in Southern England, to visit their children resident in protected areas, even when the children are over 16 years of age;
(2) if further consideration has now been given to problems arising from the provisions of the Protected Areas Order; and if he will grant permission to enter such areas to persons in other categories than those prescribed in the Order, or grant chief constables power of discretion in cases of exceptional hardship.
§ 11. Mr. Keelingasked the Secretary of State for War whether the permission given to persons made homeless by bombing to live with relatives or friends in the protected coastal areas can now be extended to persons eligible for evacuation from the area attacked by flying bombs.
§ Sir J. GriggThe Government have considered whether any relaxation of the Orders governing the present Protected Areas is possible in order to allow persons from other parts of Southern England to enter these areas. They have decided in the first place to raise the ban on access to the areas in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and a part of Hampshire consisting of Bournemouth, Christchurch and the rural district of Ringwood and Fordingbridge, as from to-morrow morning. For operational reasons the ban on access to the rest of the areas originally scheduled must be maintained but the Government have decided that permission to enter the areas should be extended to persons evacuated from London and certain other evacuable areas of Southern England, firstly under organised arrangements, i.e. unaccompanied schoolchildren, mothers with children under five and expectant mothers, and secondly, under private arrangements made by persons holding certificates issued by the local authorities in the evacuable areas. The private arrangements cover in addition to the above categories mothers with children of school age, infirm, invalid, aged and blind persons.
§ Mr. WoodburnMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if there is to be any lifting of the restrictions regarding the banned areas in Scotland?
§ Sir J. GriggThe exclusions from the banned areas are those I have mentioned; 1560 therefore, the banned areas in Scotland still hold.
§ Mr. KeelingCan the Minister explain why operational reasons continue to prevent access to certain areas of persons eligible for evacuation from areas affected by flying bombs, but do not apply to persons made homeless by bombing?
§ Sir J. GriggPersons made homeless by bombing were included in the original Order.
§ Mr. G. StraussCan the Minister say what procedure should be adopted in the case of infirm elderly persons, for example, who wish to go to a banned area? Should they give a medical certificate to the chief constable?
§ Sir J. GriggI would be very grateful if that question could be addressed to the Minister of Health. I believe the Ministry of Health will issue special instructions where necessary. I am only giving a summary.
§ Commander Sir Archibald SouthbyDoes the answer to the last supplementary question mean that people trying to evacuate themselves from the bombed areas should make application to the local authorities for entry into these prohibited areas, or should they go to the local police?
§ Sir J. GriggI would be very grateful if my hon. and gallant Friend will get the precise instructions from the Ministry of Health. I understand they are contemplating the issue of a Press statement on this matter.
§ Mr. DribergCan we take it from the right hon. Gentleman's very satisfactory reply that elderly people will be able to go at once and stay with their children, and will not be turned back if they should get into a banned area?
§ Sir J. GriggI am afraid that the answer does mean—and I have said it quite specifically—that the arrangements have to be organised arrangements. Therefore, they must either be arranged under Government auspices, or the persons concerned must hold a certificate from the local authorities. I do not think there is any automatic access to them.
§ Mr. WoodburnMay I ask whether the relaxation which is permitted in regard to Southern areas applies to the banned areas of Scotland, or whether the 1561 complete restrictions still apply to the banned areas in Scotland; and whether the Minister holds out any prospect of lifting this ban completely or partly?
§ Sir J. GriggI am sorry if I was a little obscure. The second part of the arrangements—the addition to the permitted classes—applies throughout the areas which are left. The ban is completely removed only from the areas I have specifically mentioned.
§ Sir H. Morris-JonesCan my right hon. Friend make representations with regard to travelling facilities, because, under present conditions, it is impossible to get on trains, and in that case these facilities are not going to be very much use?
§ Sir J. GriggI should have thought my hon. Friend would have been able to make his own representations with at least as much vigour as I can.
§ Mr. ThorneAre not the local authorities responsible for the evacuation of women and children?
§ Sir J. GriggI am afraid that is not in my portfolio. All I said was that there was an arrangement for the extension of the permitted classes, but this applies to organised evacuation, and not to sporadic ones.
§ Mr. G. StraussIs the Minister aware that this relaxation will be very much welcomed?