HC Deb 11 July 1940 vol 362 cc1331-5
30. Mr. Mander

asked the Home Secretary the present position with regard to the Channel Islands; what neutral foreign representatives were there or had access for the purpose of taking charge of British interests; and in what manner compensation and assistance can be obtained by those who have lost their possessions on evacuation to England?

36 and 37. Mr. Ammon

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether any arrangements are being made to enable the Channel Islanders, as prisoners of war, to communicate with their friends and relatives in Great Britain;

(2) why no adequate plans for the evacuation of the population of the Channel Islands were made after the islands were demilitarised; whether he is aware that within an hour of a deputation to the Home Office from the Channel Islands being informed that the question was still under consideration Guernsey was being bombed; and who was responsible for such slackness?

58. Mr. Parker

asked the Home Secretary what percentage of the population of the Channel Islands was evacuated; why this evacuation was not made compulsory; and what measures are being taken to look after those evacuated to this country?

60. Sir Ralph Glyn

asked the Home Secretary what steps have been taken to establish a clearing house of information for persons evacuated from the Channel Islands; whether the Lieutenant-Governors and officials have been given facilities to establish temporary offices in this country in order to assist those islanders who have lost all their possessions to obtain lodging and suitable work; whether to this end any special steps have been taken by the Ministries of Labour and Health; and further, whether the Home Secretary, in conjunction with the Foreign Office, can take immediate steps to ascertain and report on the well-being and situation of the families left behind?

Sir J. Anderson

As the answer to these Questions is rather long, I will, with the permission of the House, postpone it to the end of Questions.

Later—

Sir J. Anderson

When it was decided that for strategical reasons it was necessary to de-militarise the Channel Islands the information before the Government indicated that substantial numbers of he inhabitants would be unwilling to leave their homes, and the conclusion was reached that any scheme for attempting by compulsion or inducement to transplant to this country the whole of the population of the Islands, including those who have been for generations settled on the land, would be both impracticable and undesirable. It was recognised, however, that special facilities should be provided for those who wished to leave, and the arrangements which were at once put into operation were based on the principle that priority should be given to women and children and to those men of military age who, under the Island laws, were liable to service with His Majesty's Forces. The transport made available also enabled numerous other persons to leave the Islands, and as a result between one-fourth and one-third of the total population was brought to this country.

The reference by my hon. Friend the Member for North Camberwell (Mr. Ammon) to a deputation refers apparently to a visit to the Home Office by a representative of the Methodist Church on 28th June—after these arrangements had been carried out—with a request that the policy of the Government should be changed in favour of a policy of total evacuation. It was not possible to comply with this request, and there is no ground at all for the suggestion that there was any remissness in dealing with this matter. As regards the representation of British interests, there was no foreign Consul stationed in the Islands who could be charged with those interests. The United States Consul-General is stationed at Southampton, and he has no means of access to the Islands at the present time. The question whether communication can be established through the Red Cross Association has been taken up with that body. As regards the welfare of the Islanders who came to this country, steps were taken by the Ministry of Health to find accommodation for those who were unable to make their own arrangements and for the support of those without means, and arrangements were made by the Ministry of Labour for helping any persons wishing to find employment. I am glad, also, to say that an influential voluntary committee has been formed for helping these people, for whom the greatest sympathy must be felt.

Mr. Ammon

Is it not a fact that as recently as 21st June, the Lieut.-General was advised, and authority was given by him, to apply a system of evacuation, but that was afterwards cancelled by the Government, leaving only the ordinary mail boat, which used to come twice a week, and a cargo boat with room for only 12 passengers, in order to carry out the evacuation, and that doctors as well as others protested against this and endeavoured to get a proper scheme of evacuation carried out?

Sir J. Anderson

I do not think my hon. Friend is right in suggesting that after the decision to demilitarise the islands there was any change of plans or policy. My Department was in communication with the authorities both in Jersey and in Guernsey, and all the arrangements that were made were made in the closest consultation with the Bailiffs.

Mr. Mander

May I ask whether any funds will be placed at the disposal of the committee which has been set up for the Channel Islanders in this country, and whether arrangements could not be made for the United States Consul-General or some other neutral to go by air to the Channel Islands and make inquiries as to the conditions now existing there among the population?

Sir J. Anderson

I should certainly consider any possible means of obtaining accurate and up-to-date information about conditions in the Islands. As I have explained, the first approach has been made through the Red Cross organisation, and I think we had better await the result of that approach. As to the other question, I think I ought to await any representations from the voluntary committee which has been set up. Immediate needs are being met from Government sources.

Mr. Ammon

Does the right hon. Gentleman not know that posters were pasted up asking people not to be "yellow" and not to allow themselves to be evacuated, which shows that there was some conflict of opinion?

Sir J. Anderson

I am sure there were differences of opinion locally, as there were bound to be on a question of that kind.

Sir R. Glyn

In order to meet the dire necessity of some of these people, do not the Government think it is important to have an official committee in addition to this voluntary committee, so that people who have been engaged on the land can find occupation on the land in this country and be assisted in other ways?

Sir J. Anderson

My hon. Friend referred to "dire necessity." I thought I had make it clear that provision has been made for meeting the actual needs of these people from public funds.

Sir R. Glyn

I did not mean that. A great many of these people do not want to exist on charity, and are anxious to make their contribution, and surely some official scheme for a clearing house could be arranged, so that there could be interchange of views on this matter?

Sir J. Anderson

I should be glad to consider any method which is likely to serve the interests of these unfortunate people, but I suggest that the committee which has been set up, and which is presided over by a very distinguished native of the Channel Islands, Lord Justice Du Parcq, is the proper body to consider all those matters and make representations to the Government.

Mr. Shinwell

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is happening to the people who still remain in Jersey and Guernsey?

Sir J. Anderson

I am sure the hon. Member will recognise the difficulty of obtaining authentic information, but I think I am justified in saying that such indications as have reached the Government are of a rather reassuring nature.

Mr. Ammon

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the point about whether arrangements are being made, as is done in the case of nations at war, in order that Channel Islanders may communicate with their friends on this side?

Sir J. Anderson

With great respect, I did deal with that point. I said that an endeavour is being made to secure that through the Red Cross organisation.

Sir Richard Acland

Would the right hon. Gentleman ask the B.B.C. or some other organisation to appeal to all the Channel Islanders to communicate with this committee in Watling Street, because otherwise people cannot find out whether their friends are in this country or not, and I know that this uncertainty is affecting the happiness of people who have been recruited into the Army from my own constituency?

Sir J. Anderson

I will take note of that.