§ Mr. Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many British children are still stranded at Estoril, Portugal; how many are unaccompanied by any adult; and what are their ages?
§ Mr. LawFifty-nine British children are still held up in Portugal. Three of these, aged 16, 13 and 8 respectively, are unaccompanied by an adult.
§ Mr. Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider the question of financial assistance to the parents of children now stranded at Estoril, Portugal, who are being accommodated at their parents' expense at high charges?
§ Mr. LawIn cases where either parents or children in Portugal find themselves unable to obtain funds, His Majesty's Consul-General at Lisbon has authority, under standing instructions, to advance funds to them in suitable cases against their undertakings to repay. There can, I fear, be no question of His Majesty's Government assuming any financial responsibility for expenditure incurred by the parents or children in Portugal.
§ Mr. Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he is taking to prevent further children, returning to this country from the United States of America, being stranded in Portugal?
§ Mr. LawIn view of the recent congestion of British children at Lisbon, steps have been taken to prevent further departures from the United States of America for the present. It is hoped that when this traffic is resumed, it will be found possible to achieve the closest relation between departures from the United 1175W States and the numbers that can be carried by air from Lisbon to this country taking into account the possible hold-up of aircraft operating the service.