§ Mr. Gallacherasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that mothers and children who, prior to evacuation, were receiving public assistance, are refused the usual evacuation allowance by the Unemployment Assistance Board in the reception area and referred to the public assistance committee, which either refuses relief altogether or else grants a 1066W smaller amount than that granted under the evacuation scheme; and whether he will take steps to prevent this discrimination continuing?
§ Mr. ElliotThe special scheme for the prevention and relief of distress operated by the Unemployment Assistance Board was set up to deal with distress arising as a result of the war. It does not, therefore, apply to persons who were in receipt of public assistance prior to evacuation.
§ Mr. Denvilleasked the Minister of Health whether he will give the percentage of evacuees who have returned to their homes, and consider re-opening the schools, with a view to educating those who have returned?
§ Mr. ElliotI have asked local authorities for a return including the information desired by my hon. Friend and will communicate the result to him as soon as complete returns are received. The question of re-opening schools is a matter for the decision of my Noble Friend the President of the Board of Education.
§ Mr. Gallacherasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, as no rent allowance is made in connection with premises in London and elsewhere that have been evacuated, many widows are being threatened with eviction and are consequently being compelled to return to London; and will he take steps to provide for payment of rent by a grant to local authorities in areas from which such persons have been evacuated?
§ Mr. ElliotThe Courts (Emergency Powers) Act, 1939, requires that the leave of the appropriate court must be obtained before a landlord can enforce any order for the recovery of possession in default of payment of rent, and the court can refuse such leave if satisfied that the default arises from circumstances attributable to the war.
§ Mr. Priceasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that persons in reception areas who had the children of relatives staying with them at the outbreak of the war were asked to keep them; that these persons have now been refused maintenance payments; that the parents of the children are in some cases unemployed and unable to contribute; 1067W that consequently the whole of the cost falls on the persons in the reception area; and will he take steps to remedy this hardship?
§ Mr. ElliotA broadcast was given at the outbreak of war, on grounds of general safety, recommending that parents in evacuation areas whose children were in less vulnerable areas, should not bring the children back. Householders upon whom children are billeted by a billeting authority receive billeting payments. Relatives who have children staying with them are admittedly in a position quite different from that of householders with children billeted upon them, and therefore do not come under the arrangements of the evacuation scheme. Where the parent is unemployed and eligible for an Unemployment Assistance allowance the Unemployment Assistance Board are prepared to take the case into consideration with a view to making such adjustment as will enable the parent to make some contribution towards the support of his child.