§ Mr. Henderson Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any estimate has been made of the number of large empty houses which might be used to house evacuated children, under proper supervision, in reception areas; whether he is aware that local authorities and voluntary helpers are anxious to assist in providing such accommodation, and that the official neglect to use such accommodation is causing serious dissatisfaction among small householders already burdened with families and likely to be obliged to take in further evacuees; and what steps he proposes to take in this matter?
§ Mr. ColvilleI am not clear as to what my hon. Friend means by official neglect. Local authorities were asked to include large empty houses in the survey of accommodation which they carried out at the beginning of 1939, and since the evacuation plans were put into operation I have approved a number of proposals made by local authorities for the establishment of hospitals and sick bays in such houses. Further encouragement to local authorities to put forward proposals for the use of large houses has been given in the Memorandum dealing with the evacuation arrangements in 1940,1398W which was sent to local authorities on 15th February. It should however be realised that even the greatest possible use of those large houses which are suitable and for which staff is available would provide a relatively small part of the total accommodation needed.