§ Sir T. Mooreasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in the case of people who are receiving evacuees, local authorities are still enforcing the regulations against overcrowding; and whether he will consider suspending such regulations during the duration of the war?
§ Mr. ColvilleThe standard of accommodation recommended to local authorities in billeting evacuated persons is generally more favourable than the over-crowding standard. I am not aware that there have been any general difficulties relating to overcrowding caused by the presence of evacuated persons but if my hon. and gallant Friend will let me have details of any particular cases he has in mind, I shall have inquiries made.
§ Mr. Henderson Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, with regard to the general scheme of evacuation, he can now state what arrangements have been made to ensure that parents shall contribute up to the full measure of their resources towards the up-keep of their evacuated children; how local authorities in the reception areas are to be recouped for expenditure incurred in various forms of public assistance required by evacuees; what steps are being taken to provide additional medical, dental, nursing and other staff to enable these authorities to afford essential health services to evacuees; whether the Department of Health is acting upon the repeated warnings of medical officers of health as to the dangers of epidemics in districts known to be seriously short of water and drainage supplies; and whether he can give an assurance that a substantial pause will be observed before any further evacuation takes place?
§ Mr. ColvilleAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to-day by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Health, to a similar question by the hon. Member for Blackpool (Mr. J. R. Robinson).
1528WWith regard to the second part of the question, local authorities of receiving areas have been informed that it is the intention of the Government that the operation of the evacuation plan shall not result in any additional burden on the local rates. In respect of relief given under the Poor Law or under Section 6 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, local authorities of receiving areas will normally be reimbursed by the local authority of the appropriate sending area.
School health and child welfare nursing staffs are being supplemented, where necessary, to meet the needs of evacuated children and additional obstetrical staff and midwives are being engaged in order to attend on expectant mothers.
As regards the question of the adequacy of water and drainage services in reception areas I have no reason to believe that there is a serious risk of epidemics owing to deficiencies in these services, but I shall watch the position carefully.
With regard to the last part of the question, it has been decided that additional parties of unaccompanied children should be evacuated but no such parties will be transferred except after due consultation with the receiving authorities concerned.