HC Deb 28 September 1939 vol 351 cc1465-8
27. Mr. Kimball

asked the Minister of Health whether he can arrange some method by which the local authorities in the reception areas and the teachers who accompanied the children into those areas can communicate to the local authorities and the education authorities in the evacuated areas the needs of some children for additional clothing, and bring to the notice of the parents their responsibility to provide such clothing when they fail to do so at the request of the house holder who is lodging the children?

Mr. Elliot

I have this matter under close consideration and I propose to send a circular on the subject to the local authorities as soon as possible.

28. Sir Henry Morris-Jones

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the sum of 8s. 6d. per head is being paid in reception areas in respect of children of the secondary schools; that many of these children belong to parents who are comfortably off; and whether he will review the position by asking for a contribution from such parents in order to make up the loss to those in poor circum stances who now board them?

Mr. Elliot

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given on the 15th and 20th instant to my hon. Friends the Members for Blackpool (Mr. R. Robin-son) and Wycombe (Sir A. Knox). Certain anomalies in the principle of a flat rate have been brought to my notice and are under consideration.

Sir H. Morris-Jones

Will the right hon. Gentleman at an early date be able to come to some conclusion in this matter seeing that in the reception areas there is much dissatisfaction?

Mr. Elliot

There is a further question on the Order Paper.

32. Mr. R. Robinson

asked the Minister of Health whether he will invite parents of evacuated children to make some contribution towards their maintenance in cases where they can afford to do so?

Mr. Elliot

As has already been announced, the Government propose that parents of children who are evacuated in school units under the Government plan and for whose board and lodging and general welfare the householder is made responsible should be asked, where the family circumstances justify, to make a contribution towards the cost. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are in consultation with the representative local government bodies on the details of proposals to this end. I hope to be in a position to make a further statement very shortly, but in the meantime I may say that in any case parents will receive full notice and that it is not proposed to ask them to pay contributions retrospectively.

Mr. Tomlinson

Will the Minister keep in mind the possibility of this charge nullifying the effect of the evacuation, if great care is not exercised?

Mr. Elliot

It is obviously necessary to exercise great care, and I am doing my best to acquaint myself with representative opinion on the subject.

Miss Wilkinson

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the extra contribution which the parents will have to pay will be paid to the State in relief of the State contribution, or to the householder who receives the children, in respect of the higher cost incurred which is not covered by the State contribution?

Mr. Elliot

It is a case of certain contributions being made by the parents towards the present cost of the scheme, which is being carried wholly by the State.

33. Mr. Thurtle

asked the Minister of Health whether he will take steps to see that arrangements are made by the billeting officers or other authority respon- sible for regular visits to be paid to expectant mothers who have been evacuated to reception areas, in order that the special needs of these mothers may not be overlooked?

Mr. Elliot

The normal public health services include the organised visiting of expectant mothers, and I am taking steps to ensure that such services are available in reception areas for evacuated women as well as for the ordinary population.

35. Mr. J. Griffiths

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the rate of extra allowance proposed to be paid to the householder for undertaking the additional responsibilities of attending upon an expectant mother during confinement is considered inadequate; and whether he will reconsider this matter and increase the payment?

Mr. Elliot

The payment to which the hon. Member refers is applicable in cases where, by agreement with the householder, arrangements are made for the confinement to take place in the billet. The usual arrangements are for the confinement to take place in a maternity hospital or maternity home, and the availability of these arrangements should obviate any difficulty in cases where a householder who was otherwise willing feels unable to provide lodging and attendance for the mother for the payment of 10s. a week.

Mr. Griffiths

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in some reception areas, my own for example, there are not available sufficient maternity services and homes, and that a good many of the householders will refuse to look after these women, the added responsibility being enormous, for 5s. per week?

Mr. Elliot

The payment is 10s. per week, but naturally the adequacy of the provision of maternity homes is a matter which I shall be willing to look into.

36. Mr. Griffiths

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement in reference to the position of unofficial evacuees now resident in reception areas, as considerable dissatisfaction exists as to his decision to discontinue payment of billeting allowance in these cases?

Mr. Elliot

I do not think it is possible to deal satisfactorily with the position of unofficial evacuees within the limits of a Parliamentary question and answer. I may, however, say that billeting allowances have never been payable except in respect of persons of the priority classes who have been moved and billeted under the Government's evacuation scheme. I do not think that the scheme can appropriately deal with the case of individuals who may have elected or who may elect in the future to move on their own account from one part of the country to another. I am not sure whether this meets the hon. Member's point, and if not, and he will let me have particulars, I will look into the matter further.

Mr. Griffiths

Will the right hon. Gentleman look at the case of people who have been evacuated to South Wales? There are hundreds and thousands of persons, from vulnerable areas, and if satisfactory arrangements are not made these people will go back to the vulnerable areas, which, I gather, is undesirable.

Mr. Elliot

It is a question of priority classes, and I am not quite sure whether the hon. Member has in mind persons of the priority classes or otherwise.