HC Deb 23 July 1940 vol 363 cc609-10
68. Mr. Lewis

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, for which Members of this House the Children's Overseas Reception Board have requested that exit permits should be granted, and for what reasons?

Mr. Shakespeare

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department on 11th July. That is the only case where an exit permit has been issued to a Member of this House on the advice of the Board, and it was granted in connection with an offer to provide for the reception of 500 British children in the United States of America.

Mr. T. Smith

When this exit permit was granted to this hon. and gallant Member, was any stipulation made that he should take his mother with him to look after him?

Mr. Shakespeare

I will look into that point.

Mr. Smith

She has gone with him, I understand, anyhow.

69. Major Braithwaite

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs how many appointments in the United States of America in connection with the Children's Overseas Reception Board have been made; and how many Members of Parliament have been employed in such work?

Mr. Shakespeare

Two such appointments have been made in the U.S.A. The first was that of the hon. Member for Blackpool (Mr. R. Robinson), who will shortly be returning to this country, having rendered valuable assistance in working in close association with the U.S.A. authorities.. The second appointment is that of an officer of His Majesty's Consular Service, who will be attached to the staff of His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington.

70. Mr. R. Gibson

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs how many applications in respect of children in Scotland have been received up to the latest available date; how are these distributed as between local authority schools and other schools, respectively; and how many in each group have been accepted?

Mr. Shakespeare

Up to 5th July, when the Board's lists were closed, applications were received in Scotland in respect of approximately 27,000 children, 474 of whom were in attendance at non-State-aided schools. Letters intimating the Board's provisional acceptance have so far been sent out in respect of 1,448 children, including 24 of the non-State-aided group.

Mr. Gibson

Has any decision been reached with regard to the rest, or are they still under consideration?

Mr. Shakespeare

They are still under consideration.