Miss Cazaletasked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the new military situation, he will now use compulsory powers to enforce the evacuation of children of school age from vulnerable areas?
Mr. M. MacDonaldFor the reasons which I explained to the House on 13th June, the Government take the view that evacuation should be compulsory only in case of military necessity. If for military reasons compulsory evacuation from certain places should become necessary it would cover a large proportion of the population, and not only school children.
§ Sir G. Foxasked the Minister of Health the number of children evacuated to Henley-on-Thames last week; the total number who failed to pass the doctor's examination, and the causes of such failure; and the areas from which these rejected children came, stating numbers in each case and the salary of the medical officer in charge of each of such areas?
Mr. MacDonaldThe number of children recently evacuated to Henley-on-Thames Borough was 123 of whom three were found to be suffering from minor ailments. The children sent to this district came from Stepney and Ilford. The number of children evacuated to the Henley-on-Thames Rural District was 373, of whom six were found to be suffering from impetigo and one from an injured leg. The children sent to this district came from Stepney and Edmonton. The medical examination of the children before departure was carried out under ad hoc arrangements which varied according to the locality.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health whether emergency medical service hospitals in country areas, and especially those on the East and South-east coasts, have been advised to arrange for alternative accommodation in case they should be put out of action or should be faced with excessive numbers of cases which could not easily be transferred to other hospitals?
Mr. MacDonaldArrangements are made by my regional officers to meet the contingencies described in the Question.