§ 30. Mr. Wedgwoodasked the Minister of Health why families driven by bombing from Whitstable are not given billeting allowances equally with those who are evacuated from London, in view of the financial difficulties that this involves upon the poorer classes?
§ Mr. E. BrownIt is not the case that persons whose homes in Whitstable are rendered uninhabitable by enemy action are treated differently in the matter or billeting allowances from those whose homes are in London. Persons in these circumstances are, wherever their homes may be, entitled to be billeted, though for reasons of national security persons coming from other areas cannot be billeted in certain towns. If my right hon. Friend will let me know of an particular case he has in mind, I shall be glad to look into it.
§ Mr. WedgwoodIs it not the case that people evacuated from London, although their houses had not been destroyed, receive a billeting allowance, but that people evacuated from parts of Kent, where the situation is quite as bad, do not?
§ Mr. BrownIf my right hon. Friend will study my Answer, he will see that there is no differentiation on the point put in his Question. The issue he had in mind, I understood, is where people who were evacuated from one area where a scheme applies have gone to an area where for security reasons the Government do not desire them to go.