HC Deb 04 May 1939 vol 346 cc2057-60
43. Mr. Tomlinson

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether it is proposed to grant facilities to local education authorities to provide clothing and footwear for necessitous children in connection with the provision of the kit required in schemes of evacuation?

Mr. Lindsay

The question of supplying clothing and footwear to necessitous children evacuated in a time of emergency is one for consideration in the first instance by the Ministry of Health as part of the Government's scheme of evacuation, and I am in communication with my right hon. Friend on the matter.

Mr. Tomlinson

Is the Minister aware that the education authorities in Scotland have the power to provide clothing?

Mr. Lindsay

Yes, I am.

49. Mr. Maxwell

asked the Minister of Health whether he has now allocated definite numbers of children to be evacuated to specified reception areas; and what authorities are responsible for making plans to receive them?

The Minister of Health (Mr. Elliot)

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The responsible local authority is the council for the county borough, municipal borough, urban district or rural district as the case may be. The county council has in each administrative county been asked to coordinate the work of the receiving areas with that of the evacuable authorities and the transport authorities, and to hold conferences for this purpose.

Mr. Maxwell

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the smaller authorities to which he referred know the number of children they are to receive, and is he satisfied that they have adequate plans?

Mr. Elliot

A statement has been sent to them, and we are now in conference with them to see that adequate plans are being made.

Mr. Orr-Ewing

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether, in the course of the conference, he will consult with the local authorities with regard to such points as detraining, about which there is some concern?

Mr. Elliot

Certainly, Sir. There will be the usual administrative procedure to clear up all these points which are under consideration.

Mr. Graham White

Has the right hon. Gentleman received any reports from receiving authorities as to their capacity for receiving children owing to the amount of private evacuation which is being arranged?

Mr. Elliot

No, Sir. Certain authorities have indicated that there is a fear of the accommodation being eaten into, and we shall take account of that in the arrangements we make with the receiving authorities.

54. Viscountess Astor

asked the Minister of Health whether, when he considers measures to prevent unofficial evacuation, he will grant permits for voluntary evacuation to children up to 15 years of age, not attending State-aided schools, and their mothers?

Mr. Elliot

All schools in evacuating areas, whether State-aided or not, may participate in the Government evacuation scheme and each school may either go as a unit, or arrange for children attending it to go with another school. The scheme is also open to all mothers having children under five whatever their circumstances. I am aware that private arrangements for individuals in the priority classes, such as my noble Friend refers to have also been made in a number of cases. The arrangements for the execution of the Government plans do not contemplate any interference with these arrangements.

60. Mr. Sandys

asked the Minister of Health whether the Government's schemes for the evacuation of adults from congested areas in the event of war are at present confined to blind persons, pregnant women, hospital patients, and cripples; and, in view of the desirability of reducing to a minimum the number of persons for whose protection shelters, rescue parties, medical services, etc., have to be provided, whether he proposes to extend the Government's plans to further categories of adults who could with advantage be evacuated?

Mr. Elliot

The Government plans are for the maximum possible immediate evacuation at the commencement of an emergency when transport facilities are unimpaired, of the priority classes, mainly women and children. The possibility of any extension of these plans depends very greatly on the transport facilities available, and is being kept under constant review.

Mr. Sandys

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that an impression is being created that the Government do not intend fully to carry out the recommendations of the Anderson Report providing for the evacuation of a considerable section of the adult population? Can he give us any reassurance on that point?

Mr. Elliot

It is clear that the evacuation of a considerable section of the adult population must in any case come subsequent to the evacuation of the priority classes. We are already rather concerned with the extension of the time which the railway companies consider will be necessary to carry out the evacuation of the priority classes. It has already been extended from two days to three, and may be extended to four. What will happen after the fourth day will require careful consideration.

Mr. Sandys

Do the Government plans not extend beyond the fourth day?

Mr. Elliot

It is impossible to plan as to what will happen when we get to the fourth day, or the onset of an emergency, and it would be unwise to make a too rigid system which might break down completely.

Sir Percy Harris

Is it not the case that there will be very little surplus accommodation left over when the priority classes have been evacuated?

Mr. Elliot

There will be little accommodation left over according to the present standards to which we are working, and, of course, in a great emergency it may not be possible to preserve these high standards.