Mr. David Adamsasked the Minister of Health whether, as a military necessity and for the proper education of the rising generation no longer possible in London, it is intended to evacuate compulsorily schoolchildren from the Metropolis, together with provision for those mothers desiring to accompany them?
§ Miss HorsbrughI am aware that there is much to be said in favour of the compulsory evacuation of schoolchildren from London, but there are also considerations on the other side, and in view of the fact that we should certainly not be able to obtain the co-operation of a considerable proportion of the parents I do not consider that such a course is practicable. In the meantime, a corps of volunteers in all the metropolitan boroughs and in East Ham and in West Ham has been making a personal approach to the parents in order to persuade them of the importance of evacuation in the public interest, and in the interests of the safety, health and education of the children. I am very grateful to all those who are giving their help in this campaign. This personal approach is being1594W reinforced through the medium of the Press, the British Broadcasting Corporation and by the exhibition of posters.
Miss Wardasked the Attorney-General, whether he will take steps to see that a moratorium is declared in areas where evacuation is officially recommended?
§ The Attorney-GeneralA moratorium is a remedy which should be extended as sparingly as possible. In the areas referred to in the Question some relief has already been given by way of an extension of the Courts (Emergency Powers) Acts under paragraph 6 of the Defence (Evacuated Areas) Regulations, 1940. The question of additional legislation is under consideration by the Government.