§ 28. Mr. Henderson Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how, in view of the large sums spent on health services in the cities of Scotland and the repeated assurances that these services were adequate and efficient, he accounts for the serious bodily condition of so many of the persons recently evacuated; and whether, in order to allay public concern and safeguard public health, he will order an immediate inquiry into the health services of the cities of Scotland, and take urgent measures to act upon the findings of such inquiry?
§ Mr. ColvilleI have been making inquiries, and, while I think there has been a tendency to exaggerate the position, it is the case that a proportion of evacuated children were suffering from skin diseases or were in a verminous condition. I do not, however, consider that an inquiry such as the hon. Member suggests would serve a useful purpose in present circumstances, but I have arranged that the local authorities of sending areas will make a thorough medical inspection and give whatever treatment is necessary before any further children are evacuated. I should add that the evacuation took place in conditions of urgency, at a time when the possibilities of supervision of the 1192 children were necessarily curtailed because of the school holidays.
Mr. StewartDoes my right hon. Friend, then, seek to ignore the fact that this unsatisfactory condition reflected by the evacuation is a must serious reflection on the social services of Scotland?
§ Mr. ColvilleI do not ignore the fact; also I do not ignore the difficulties. I do not think that an inquiry of the type suggested would, under war-time conditions, serve a useful purpose.
§ Mr. MacleanIs Scotland the only place where these allegations have been made?
§ Mr. BuchananIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that his decision to-day to stop building houses in Glasgow will make this much worse than it is already?