HC Deb 13 November 1940 vol 365 cc1722-3W
Sir J. Mellor

asked the Minister of Health whether, in the light of experience, he is prepared to reconsider the areas in the County of Warwickshire scheduled as reception areas for evacuees?

Mr. M. MacDonald

I do not think that experience suggests that any general change is called for in the classification of receiving areas in Warwickshire, but if my hon. Friend will give me confidentially the names of any particular areas he has in mind I will gladly look into the matter.

Sir J. Mellor

asked the Minister of Health upon what grounds he proposes to reverse the decision of his predecessor that Sutton Coldfield should be a neutral area in the Government's evacuation scheme?

Mr. MacDonald

The increasing pressure on accommodation in the reception areas is rendering it necessary to make use of certain areas originally classified as neutral which experience has shown to offer a relatively high degree of safety as compared with the areas from which women and children are being evacuated.