HC Deb 25 July 1946 vol 426 cc218-9
52. Sir W. Darling

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements are in being for the transfer of lunatics from the Soviet to the British zone and vice versa; and if any totals can be given of the number of persons so transferred.

Mr. J. Hynd

There are no special arrangements of this kind.

Sir W. Darling

Is the Chancellor of the Duchy aware that reports which have reached this country from serving officers state that a train carrying more than 200 lunatics coming from a non-British zone was driven into the British zone where the occupants were abandoned; that the train returned to the zone from which it came, and that no one took charge of these unfortunate and unaccompanied men and women?

Mr. Hynd

I am not aware of the alleged incident. There have in fact been no separate despatches of lunatics from the Russian zone into the British zone or vice versa. There have probably been individual cases where mentally defective people have come in with the other exchanges of population but, of course, lunacy like beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Mr. Gallacher

Was this not a deliberate attempt to smuggle Tory votes into Bexley?

Sir W. Darling

Has any organised party exceeding 200 in number come in from a non-British zone and been so abandoned in the British zone? The Minister has been unable to tell the House but I can supply the hon. Gentleman with incontrovertible information.

Mr. Hynd

I should of course be glad to have that information, but I am afraid the hon. Member is misinformed because our information about what has come from the Soviet zone is fairly accurate because it is all checked. The hon. Gentleman may have particulars relating to an incident which originated from some other quarter.