§ 58. Mr. ATTLEEasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that some 2,000 homeless men and women are arriving in London from the provinces with no prospect of accommodation or means of obtaining it; and whether, in order to prevent confusion and possible disorder, he will communicate with the London public assistance authorities advising them to let it be known that the usual facilities for persons in need are available for these marchers, and to specify the various areas in which accommodation provided for homeless persons can be obtained?
Sir H. YOUNGI am aware that a, number of persons have been induced by a Communist organisation to leave their homes and proceed to London. It seems to me to be the duty of the persons responsible for demonstrations of the kind to make all necessary arrangements to meet the needs of their followers. In the event of their failure to do so applications can be made by individuals in need to the public assistance authorities. It would not be any part of the duty of those authorities to facilitate such demonstrations by making exceptional arrangements of the kind suggested.
§ Mr. LANSBURYIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that these are just ordinary citizens and that, by whomsoever they may have been induced to march here, they have a claim on the hospitality of the people of this city? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that they are the sons and grandsons of men who fought and died for this country and that many of them are themselves men who fought in the War; and cannot we have the decency, if no provision is made for them, to see that it is made; and is it not the business of the right hon. Gentleman to see that such provision is made?
Sir H. YOUNGI have no doubt that local authorities will bear in mind all the matters to which the right hon. Gentleman has referred, but I may also say that it might have been of great advantage if those who have induced them to leave their homes had borne these matters in mind in the first place.
Viscountess ASTORDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that it would really be a humane action on the part of Members of Parliament to warn these men in their own constituencies of the conditions which they will find here in London, instead of telling them to agitate for more?
Mr. KIRKWOODDArising from the original reply, in which the Minister said that these men were organised by Communists, apart from who is organising them, the fact remains that they are here, strangers within our gates. If they were refugees from another country we should treat them accordingly, but they are the the victims of this system——
§ Mr. SPEAKERWill the hon. Member please ask his question?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWill the Minister see to it that these men and women are cared for, that they are not treated as criminals, but are treated with justice and respect They are the victims of the system and ought not to be treated as criminals.
Sir H. YOUNGThe local authorities will undoubtedly discharge their statutory duties in preventing destitution, but, as I have said, it is not in the public interest that they should take exceptional measures which would have the effect of encouraging such demonstrations.
§ Mr. REMERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, while these men have been passing through the provinces, they have collected and banked as much as£37; and may I ask whether they are prepared to take that money to pay for their costs?
§ Mr. MAXTONHaving regard to the Minister's original answer, I wish to ask him if the fact that this is a Communist movement makes the treatment of these men different from what it would have been, if this had been organised under other auspices?
Sir H. YOUNGNo, Sir, that is certainly not the case, but it is not the function of those responsible for preventing destitution to take exceptional measures to encourage political demonstrations of the sort.