§ Sir R. Glynasked the Minister of Health whether he will take some early opportunity, either by a statement in this House or by a White Paper, to indicate the revised policy of his Department in regard to evacuation, in view of the many grave reports from the clerks to local authorities in reception areas in all parts of the country, in order to assure rural areas that the errors of the existing scheme have been appreciated and will now be adjusted, and thus allay the increasing feeling of distress and unrest in many districts?
§ Mr. ElliotMy Department, both at Headquarters and through the regional organisations in the country, is constantly engaged in seeking to adjust the difficulties and hardships to which so large a movement, carried through of necessity in so short a time, have inevitably given rise. In this connection full account is being taken of the many reports, both official and unofficial, from the receiving areas, for which my Department is most grateful. Improvements and developments, and revision of policy where called for, are being indicated in communications to the local authorities, such as Circular 1871, recently issued. A circular on medical arrangements will shortly be sent out.
I should like to pay a tribute to the vigour and good will with which the receiving areas are tackling the problem, and to assure them that, both in administration and in the development of policy, their representations, notably on the difficulties of the reception of adults and the necessity of adequate medical examination of evacuated school children, are receiving, and will receive, full weight.
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§ Sir W. Edgeasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the representations now being made by householders as to the difficulty of feeding growing children over 16 years of age billeted on them for the payment of 8s. 6d. a week, he proposes to publish any official menus, prepared by his Department, showing how this can be successfully done?
§ Mr. ElliotI am advised that it is not practicable to prescribe standard menus in view of the variety of individual and local circumstances and tastes: but helpful suggestions may be obtained from a leaflet entitled "Information on Evacuation for Householders" issued by the Women's Voluntary Services. The specimen meals there suggested for children of school age may, I am advised, be taken as applicable to older children.
§ Captain Pluggeasked the Minister of Health whether he can now state the number of schoolchildren who are understood to have returned from evacuation areas, and the number of mothers who have equally returned?
§ Mr. ElliotFull information is not at present available on the point raised by my hon. Friend but I have asked local authorities for a return.
§ Sir R. Glynasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether county education authorities in the reception areas of the evacuation scheme have been asked to submit reports as to what steps must at once be taken to provide adequate educational facilities for the evacuated children and their teachers without imposing a charge on the local rates, in order that the present unsatisfactory position can be rectified before the wintry weather further complicates matters?
Mr. LindsayIn many of the reception areas the problem of accommodation for the evacuated children and their teachers is being solved by working double shifts in the existing schools. In other cases it is being dealt with by the hiring of temporary premises. His Majesty's Inspectors are in close touch with the Authorities of these areas and are giving advice, where necessary, as to the securing of temporary premises. If my hon. Friend knows of cases in which the present position is unsatisfactory, perhaps he would be good enough to let me know.
1621WAs the Board have already informed Authorities the cost of the education of children evacuated under the Government scheme will not fall on the Authorities of the reception areas.