HC Deb 09 October 1945 vol 414 cc88-9W
Mr. Sparks

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how soon Government Departments which were evacuated to Bournemouth, Llandudno, Morecambe, Blackpool, Bath, St. Anne's-on-Sea and other places owing to the bombing of London, will be returned to London and thereby reduce both expenditure and inconvenience to the public.

Mr. Dalton

Since the end of the war in Europe, approval has been given for the return to London of a number of the staff of Headquarter Departments. Further, some of the evacuated staffs of the Ministry of Health and of the Post Office Savings Bank at Blackpool and Harrogate will be moved, in pursuance of arrangements already announced, to Newcastle and Nottingham respectively. There are now no evacuated Departments at Bournemouth. I am afraid that any large scale return of evacuated Departments to London is out of the question at present.

Sir W. Smithers

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make the necessary arrangements for all civil servants under the control of the Treasury who were evacuated for the war period, to be returned to their homes as soon as possible.

Mr. Dalton

Since the end of the war in Europe, approval has been given for the return to London of a number of the staff of Headquarter Departments. Further, some of the evacuated staffs of the Ministry of Health and of the Post Office Savings Bank at Blackpool and Harrogate will be moved, in pursuance of arrangements already announced, to Newcastle and Nottingham, respectively.

There are now no evacuated Departments at Bournemouth.

I am afraid that any large scale return of evacuated Departments to London is out of the question at present.