HC Deb 08 February 1940 vol 357 c399
56. Mr. Parker

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education, how many day nurseries, residential nurseries, nursery schools and nursery classes were evacuated as units; how many of these are still functioning in the reception areas; and how many children are affected in each case?

Mr. Lindsay

I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health that some 55 day and 36 residential nurseries, normally containing about 2,400 and 1,500 children respectively, were evacuated as units from evacuation areas in England. The corresponding number of nursery schools evacuated as units was 59, with a normal accommodation of about 3,500. Although it has been necessary to rehouse some of these parties since the original evacuation, I am not aware that more than five have either disbanded or returned to the evacuation areas. Nursery classes were not evacuated as units, but with the public elementary school of which they formed a part.

Mr. Sorensen

What percentage of the children attending these evacuated nursery schools have returned to their original habitations?

Mr. Lindsay

A very small proportion indeed.