§ Mr. Craven-Ellisasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the hardship and inconvenience which Southampton parents of secondary school-children have suffered for about four years arising out of the evacuation of their children; and will he take steps immediately to derequisition the secondary schools in Southampton so that educational facilities and family life may be restored to the parents at the earliest date.
§ Sir J. GriggI am fully aware of, and greatly regret, the inconvenience which has been suffered for so long by the parents and children of Southampton and other towns in a comparable situation as a result of the need to requisition schools for military use. My hon. Friend no doubt appreciates the great importance of Southampton to the prosecution of the war, and will agree that no steps can be taken which would decrease its efficiency as a military port. Of the four secondary schools now occupied by British and Allied military personnel connected with the port three must continue to be occupied for an indefinite period. The need to retain the fourth will be re-examined in a month's time, but no guarantee can be given that it will be possible to release it.