HC Deb 22 May 1939 vol 347 cc1906-8
39. Sir W. Davison

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that a large number of middle-class parents with young children have arranged for places in the country for their children to be taken to in case of emergency; whether, seeing that this will reduce the accommodation required to be found by the Government, he will arrange for a register to be made as soon as possible of the addresses at which such children are to be accommodated, with a view to the parents being informed of the nearest town or village to which transport facilities will be available?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. Bernays)

I have been asked to reply. As indicated by my right hon. Friend in a reply to a supplementary question on 15th May, it is intended that the opportunity afforded by the discussion this week in Committee on the Civil Defence Bill should be taken to explain the Government's scheme for the evacuation of the priority classes in greater detail than would be possible in reply to a question. I would ask my hon. Friend if he would be good enough to await that statement.

Sir W. Davison

Can the hon. Member say why it is that transport facilities are being provided for the children of one class of the community, whose accommodation is provided by the Government, while similar transport facilities are being refused to other classes of the community who are providing their own accommodation? Does he not think that some system of registration such as that indicated in the question would get over this difficulty?

Mr. Bernays

Transport accommodation is available for all classes.

52. Sir John Mellor

asked the Minister of Health whether he will define the areas in the neighbourhood of Birmingham the classification of which in the evacuation scheme he proposes to review?

Mr. Bernays

My right hon. Friend is in communication with a committee representing the following local authorities in Staffordshire and Worcestershire: The county borough of West Bromwich and Walsall, the municipal boroughs of Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Wednesbury and Bilston, and the urban districts of Tipton, Coseley and Willenhall.

Sir J. Mellor

May I ask whether the Ministry is in communication with any local authorities in Warwickshire?

Mr. Bernays

No, Sir, only with those authorities which I have mentioned in my answer.

Sir J. Mellor

Would the Minister be prepared to receive further representations from local authorities in Warwickshire?

Mr. Bernays

I will bring that to the notice of my right hon. Friend, but at present it is not proposed to add to the areas.