HC Deb 04 October 1939 vol 351 cc1936-7
32. Mr. D. M. Adams

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the hardships to those who are desirous of visiting their wives and children who have been evacuated owing to the lack of facilities for obtaining cheap travel; and whether he will consider the issue of a cheap-day ticket to those who are anxious to visit their families?

30. Mr. Pritt

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will arrange that parents in evacuated areas seeking to visit their evacuated children should be given railway passes at reduced fares at least once a month to enable them to make such visits?

31. Mr. Isaacs

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is now in a position to state whether there will be a re-issue of cheap railway tickets so that parents may visit their children who have been removed to other areas; and whether, in the event of a general restoration of cheap tickets being difficult, he will consider the issue of such for the special purpose of parents visiting children?

34. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is considering, or will consider, enabling a limited service of coaches to run from Leyton to districts in outer Essex to which mothers and children have been evacuated?

Captain Wallace

This is an evacuation rather than a transport problem, and while we all sympathise with the feelings of families which have been separated I am advised by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health that it would not be wise during the settling-in process in the reception areas to undertake to provide special facilities which would result in a very large increase of visits of parents to evacuated children.

Mr. Sorensen

Does not the Minister think that nearly a month after evacuation they have settled in, if they have not come back, and that a large number of wives and mothers want to see their relatives from time to time; and as coach services are available and coach owners are prepared to run them, will he sympathetically consider it?

Captain Wallace

I have indicated in my answer the opinion of the Minister of Health, who is principally concerned with evacuation as a whole; and that this is an evacuation rather than a transport problem.

Sir Francis Fremantle

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend bear in mind that in hospitals they find it better and happier for the children not to see their parents?

Dr. Summerskill

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that to take up the attitude which he has adopted towards this important question, which affects homes throughout the country, he will create the gravest discontent on the home front and will not help in prosecuting the war?

Captain Wallace

It is because my right hon. Friend holds precisely the opposite view that I have given this answer.