Miss Lloyd Georgeasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that parties of schoolchildren, recently evacuated from London, have been found to include some children who had already been evacuated many times and who are apparently travelling to and from different reception areas with no intention of remaining there; and whether he will take steps to check this abuse of the evacuation scheme and of the good-will of householders in the reception areas?
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§ Miss HorsbrughYes, Sir. I believe that relatively few parents have allowed their children to abuse the hospitality of householders in the reception areas in this way. The great majority have fallen in with the policy and spirit of the Government evacuation scheme with commendable patience and loyalty. My right hon. Friend is most anxious that the action of a few should not be allowed to alienate sympathy in the reception areas. It is not in the public interest that this abuse should continue unchecked, and my right hon. Friend has therefore asked the London evacuation authorities in present circumstances not to include in parties children who have been previously brought back without reasonable excuse.