§ 73. Mr. Edmund Harveyasked the Minister of Health whether he can now state the decison of the Government with regard to billeting allowances for evacuated teachers and the provision of travelling facilities for teachers evacuated to a considerable distance from their homes?
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Elliot)As regards billeting allowances, I am not yet in a position to add anything to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 7th December. As regards travelling facilities, I am now able to say that in connection with their Christmas leave, which, in the intersts of the children and the householders, is being taken on a rota, evacuated teachers may be allowed one return journey by rail without cost to themselves to the area from which they were evacuated or, provided the cost of that journey is not exceeded, to their home in any other town.
§ Mr. HarveyWhile thanking the Minister for his reply, may I ask whether he will expedite the decision with regard to billeting allowances?
§ Mr. ElliotI know that the matter is one of urgency.
§ Mr. SorensenDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that many of these teachers are very severely hit in having to keep up their homes in London as well as having to maintain their lodgings in the country?