HC Deb 15 May 1941 vol 371 cc1243-4
32. Mr. James Griffiths

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement indicating the principles upon which decisions are made in the scheduling of areas as evacuation, neutral and reception areas?

Mr. E. Brown

As I stated in reply to a Supplementary Question on 8th May, I should welcome an opportunity to make a statement on this subject. It would need, however, to be a full one and could therefore not be compressed within the limits of the answer to a Parliamentary Question.

36. Mr. Kenneth Lindsay

asked the Minister of Health on what basis areas are now designated neutral?

Mr. Brown

The neutral areas form the intermediate category between evacuation areas and reception areas, and comprise those areas which it is not practicable or not desirable to make evacuable, but which are considered on the whole to be unsuitable for the reception of evacuees. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Parker) and the hon. Member for Dartford (Mrs. Adamson) on 17th November last as regards the principles on which these categories are determined, on which I do not think a fuller statement can conveniently be made within the limits of question and answer.

Mr. Lindsay

Is the Minister aware that there are people who have been recently moved to areas which are called neutral areas, and that then these same areas have been bombed during the following weeks, and does that not show a lack of co-ordination?

Mr. Brown

I cannot agree that there is a lack of co-ordination. The long answer to which I referred points out that there is quite a number of factors to be taken into consideration.

Mr. Lindsay

But is there not a lack of co-ordination?