§ Mr. Arthur Greenwood(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether he has any advice to give to the evacuees from Greater London who are now living in safer parts of the country and who are looking forward to returning home.
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. My earnest and urgent advice is that all the half million Londoners who are now accommodated in the reception areas under the Government Evacuation Scheme should stay where they are for the present. As soon as the time is ripe, they will be told of the Government's organised arrangements for their return in comfort and with all due speed. In view of the great number of bomb-damaged houses in the London area which have still to be made habitable, these arrangements will provide that evacuees who have no proper home to go back to should remain in the reception areas until they can be rehoused. I am confident that the kindly hosts and hostesses of the reception areas will willingly continue, even after V-E-Day, to give hospitality to homeless mothers and children, aged, and infirm from our invincible London.
Mr. BallenģerIn view of that statement, can the Prime Minister say that until the Government do give the evacuees notice that they can return to London, the Government will continue the billeting allowances which are now being issued in respect of those evacuees?
§ The Prime MinisterCertainly. I think it follows that if they cannot come home, they have got to be billeted. I speak subject to the various statements which have previously been made on the subject from this Box and by which my supplementary answers must necessarily be governed.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs the Prime Minister aware that statements are being made in some parts of the provinces that billeting allowances have been withdrawn? That may not be so, but the statement is made.
§ The Prime MinisterThey are withdrawn when the moment to go home is reached.
§ Mr. ShinwellThe statement is being made that in parts of the country billeting allowances are withdrawn.
§ The Prime MinisterI was making this statement by general request in order to discourage anything like a rush back to London, and for the House to give its solemn warning against it and discourage it. If technical matters are raised, I will ask my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Health to deal with them.
§ Mr. ThorneWhen the time arrives, will some of the officials responsible make inquiries of the local authorities as to the number of evacuees who can came back because there is housing accommodation for them?
§ Mr. WillinkA circular was issued with regard to this matter at the end of last week.
§ Mr. PrittWould the Prime Minister consider, or ask the Minister of Health to consider, the possibility that people coming back from evacuation, when the time comes for them to come back, should have some kind of priority with regard to housing accommodation, rather like people who have been bombed cut?
§ Mr. WillinkThat question was dealt with in the circular to which I referred.
§ Mr. Vernon BartlettMay I ask the Prime Minister whether "V-E-Day" is basic English for "Victory in Europe"?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is a term that has crept in, without careful consideration of its exact origin, and also without any precise or accurate definition of what it will imply, or when it will come.