Dr. Morganasked the Minister of Health, with reference to the Departmental Circular No. 2154, what is the policy of his Department with regard to the maintenance of rest centres ready for use by homeless persons in cases of emergency through enemy action; and whether local authorities will be reimbursed expenditure for services such as heating, caretaking, and maintenance staff, if, in their discretion, staff for this purpose is considered necessary in rest centres?
§ Mr. E. BrownI am sending the hon. Member a copy of a Circular issued to county councils and county borough councils on the 6th February, 1941, informing them of the Government's decision to reimburse public assistance authorities the whole of their approved expenditure, from the inception of the scheme, on providing at rest centres for the immediate needs of people who are made homeless or leave their homes as a result of enemy action. A large measure of discretion has been allowed to local authorities in providing for this service and approved expenditure for heating, caretaking and maintenance staff, would be included in the reimbursement. I am obliged to the hon. Member for sending some particulars of a case and I am looking into the facts.
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