7. Mr. David Adamsasked the President of the Board of Education whether he will give an assurance that, in the event of a partial evacuation of school children from any areas under the voluntary scheme of the Ministry, sufficient schools will be kept open in such areas to provide the children remaining with necessary education and health services so as to avoid some of the main catastrophes attendant upon the last evacuation scheme?
§ The President of the Board of Education (Mr. Ramsbotham)This is a hypothetical Question to which it is not possible to give an answer of general application. The primary consideration is the safety of the school children and the Government's action will be determined by the conditions in the areas concerned at the time when the evacuation scheme is put into operation.
Mr. AdamsDoes the Minister wish it to be inferred that he is not intending to make preparations for education and health services for those who are not evacuated?
§ Mr. RamsbothamNo; all I said was that it was not possible to make a defence plan until the actual situation is known.