§ Mr. Mathersasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can make any statement regarding the payment of billeting allowances for children from evacuation areas who were in the receiving areas in Scotland before the Government evacuation scheme was put into operation?
§ Mr. ColvilleIn general, billeting allowances are payable only for persons evacuated under the Government Evacuation Scheme, but on 31st August local authorities in Scotland were authorised to billet under the scheme persons in the priority classes from sending areas who were on holiday in the receiving areas and were unable to remain at their own expense. My attention has been drawn to certain cases in which difficulties have arisen in connection with the continued maintenance in the receiving areas of unaccompanied children who were sent to these areas before the Government Evacuation Scheme was put into operation and I am issuing a circular authorising local authorities to billet such children under the scheme where hardship is shown to exist.