HC Deb 25 February 1941 vol 369 cc373-4
5. Mr. Maxton

(for Mr. McGovern)asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs the number of persons engaged on the work of evacuating children overseas; the number who draw more than £400 per year; the monthly cost of this Department; the total amount expended since the scheme was inaugurated; the number of children evacuated to each Dominion and to the United States of America; and future intentions in regard to this work?

Mr. Shakespeare

As the answer contains a number of figures I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the Official Report.

Mr. Maxton

Is the organisation still in being?

Mr. Shakespeare

Yes, it is still in being.

Following is the reply:

The number of persons employed by the Children's Overseas Reception Board for England and Wales is 22, including messengers and typists. In addition to this there is a Scottish Branch where eight persons are employed and there is one United Kingdom representative of Children's Overseas Reception Board in each Dominion. The total number of officials drawing salaries over £400 per annum in England, Scotland and Wales is three and in the Dominions four. The total monthly salaries paid by the Board amount to £1,078. From the information at present available the total expenditure to date is £55,000, excluding cost of passages and salaries of staff seconded temporarily. Towards this expenditure the amount received from parents in weekly contributions is £10,600. This does not, however, fully represent the total amount recoverable as all parents' contributions for that period have not yet been received. These contributions are on a fixed weekly basis and will continue to be made. In addition, donations have been received towards the expenses of this scheme both from home and overseas amounting to £33,509.

The number of children evacuated to each Dominion is as follows: Canada 1,532, Australia 577, South Africa 353 and New Zealand 202. No children were sent to the United States of America under the Government scheme as it was suspended before the arrangements with the United States of America were completed, but 838 children were sent under the auspices of the American Committee for the Evacuation of European Children with the collaboration of this Board. It is not possible to state at this moment when conditions will make it possible to reopen the scheme.