HC Deb 23 January 1940 vol 356 cc367-8
74. Mr. Stephen

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the discontent among parents of evacuated children who have been evacuated to places hundreds of miles from their homes, owing to the fact that no provision is made for payment of rail fares of parents who wish to visit their children from time to time, or of cheap excursions for more than one day; and whether he will consider taking steps to assist parents to have the opportunity of visiting their children who are evacuated to places at such long distances from their own homes?

Mr. Colville

Day trips at reduced fares have already been run from Edinburgh and Dundee and I hope that with the cooperation of Glasgow Corporation it will shortly be possible to provide similar facilities for Glasgow parents. Only a relatively small number of children have been evacuated to areas outside the range of day trips but the Minister of Transport and I are considering the question of arranging trips at reduced fares to the remoter Scottish areas to which the return journey cannot be made in one day.

Mr. Stephen

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider that where the children are hundreds of miles away the parents should get some financial assistance in order to visit them?

Mr. Colville

I am looking into the matter with my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Transport to see what can be done in those cases where the parents are living long distances away from their children.

Mr. Stephen

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many families have been away for more than three months and have never had an opportunity of seeing their parents during that time? Does he realise the importance of this matter?

Mr. Colville

Yes, Sir.