§ Mr. A. Fenner BrockwayI have been asked to present a Petition by 6,588 residents of Slough, Eton and neighbouring towns and villages. It opens in the prescribed form and shows that a decision has been reached to close Colinswood Maternity Home, that this decision will mean that many expectant mothers will have no opportunity to enter a maternity home, that it will cause grievous suffering because of the overcrowded homes in Slough and the continued use of hutments for accommodation, that the need for provision for mothers will be greatly increased by the new population of 17,000 which is to be accommodated on two new London County Council housing estates, and that in the area of Eton and other neighbouring towns and villages there is no adequate maternity home accommodation and the need is specially great because of the considerable caravan population. The Prayer of the Petitioners is as follows
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that the Colinswood Maternity Home shall not be closed until adequate alternative provision has been made for the expectant mothers of Slough and neighbouring towns and villages, and your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.To lie upon the Table.