§ Mr. Noel-Bakerasked the Lord Privy Seal upon what principle or principles he has determined the demarcation of evacuation, neutral and reception areas?
§ Sir J. AndersonI should find it difficult to give a complete exposition within the limits of an answer to a Parliamentary Question, but it may perhaps suffice for the hon. Member's purpose if I explain that the provisional demarcation adopted for the purpose of the evacuation schemes now being worked out in detail was arrived at by stages. The first criterion to be applied was a combination of the factors of vulnerability and density of population. Then, taking into account the additional factor of available accommodation as disclosed by housing statistics, the country was broadly divided into three categories of evacuation, neutral and reception areas, the establishment of which was found to be essential to the working out of a practical scheme. After various adjustments had been made to secure a fair allocation of accommodation as between different evacuation areas, a demarcation was arrived at which it was realised might require further adjustment but which it was decided to adopt as a working basis for the preparation as a matter of urgency of detailed plans for the evacuation of the priority classes.