§ 48. Rear-Admiral Beamishasked the Prime Minister whether he will make plain to the public that evacuation from one part of the country to another or overseas is unnecessary and productive of despondency and alarm except under official control and direction; and whether he will at once put a check on this refugee spirit?
§ Mr. AttleeIn the leaflet "If the Invader Comes" recently issued to all householders, it has been made clear that in general it is the duty of members of the civilian population to stay where they are and carry on with their work unless orders to the contrary are given to them by a competent authority. Every suitable opportunity is being taken, and will continue to be taken, to repeat and reinforce the general advice already given; and special advice to particular classes of persons will also be given as occasion demands.
§ Rear-Admiral BeamishIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the example set by wealthy and leisured classes at the present time in evacuating their children and themselves all over the country, and can he not make it much more plain than has hitherto been the case that such a policy does not meet with the approval of the Government?
§ Mr. AttleeI think it has been made plain that the Government are not in favour of panic evacuation. A reasonable evacuation under proper conditions is part of the ordinary policy of defence, but certainly there should be nothing like panic evacuation, whether by wealthy persons or by anyone else.
§ Rear-Admiral BeamishIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that in many constituencies, certainly in my own, that type of panic evacuation is going forward now?
§ Mr. Garro JonesDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it sufficient merely for the Government to say that the Government are not in favour of this evacuation; and does he not think that such an attitude throws on many individuals doubt as to what is the proper course for them to take, and that that very doubt is productive of worry and alarm?
§ Mr. AttleeI think that the advice issued in the leaflet shows quitely plainly what the Government consider is the duty of the individual.
§ Mr. MaxtonDoes the Minister not realise that the answer which he has given just now creates very grave doubts? It has been the understanding of all Members that dispersion is the policy of the Government. Now do I understand from the right hon. Gentleman's answer that it is changed, and that people are to remain now in places where they are?
§ Mr. AttleeNo, Sir. The hon. Member is quite mistaken. What I said was that a proper evacuation under proper conditions from certain places is part of the Government's policy, but that general panic evacuation is not part of the policy.
§ Sir R. AclandWhat is the use of that answer? What is a proper evacuation? We have not any idea what the right hon. Gentleman means.
71. Mr. David Adamsasked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the decision that the evacuation of schoolchildren is to be upon a voluntary basis, he has arranged that full compulsory education, medical inspection and treatment, school meals and milk shall be available to schoolchildren in all areas of the country?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (Mr. Ede)Compulsory full-time education, medical inspection and treatment and milk are available generally in reception and neutral areas and in evacuation areas, so far as the safety of the children permits. The normal facilities for school meals are also generally available, but these are, as they were also before the war, less extensive than the facilities for the supply of milk.
Mr. AdamsDo I understand from that answer that full facilities on the lines that I have indicated will shortly be provided throughout the country?
§ Mr. EdeLocal authorities in certain evacuation areas have not yet made full provision for the safety of the children who would be compulsorily made to attend the schools if they were opened.