Parliament – Evacuation – 24th October 1939

Mr. Henderson Stewart

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that many local authorities in reception areas are not aware of any instructions received from the Scottish Office requiring them to give special consideration to aged householders in connection with the billeting of evacuees; that large numbers of aged persons were required to take, and are still obliged to keep, evacuees in their homes, with consequent serious effects upon their health; and whether he will issue a special instruction to local authorities designed to safeguard the position of the aged householder?

Mr. Colville

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to him on 12th October. As indicated in that reply, I shall be glad to consider any specific cases which he may have in mind.

Mr. Stewart

Does not my right hon. Friend recollect that in that reply he suggested that local authorities had already been instructed on this matter, and is he aware that I have seen several local authorities since that answer and that they have told me definitely that they have not so been instructed? Will my right hon. Friend reconsider the matter?

Mr. Colville

I do know that instructions were generally issued. Perhaps my hon. Friend will discuss the matter with me.

Mr. Mathers

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the experience of the air-raid in the Forth area has caused the Government to examine afresh the question of classifying the burgh of South Queensferry as an evacuation area as urged by the town council; and whether he is in a position to make a statement there anent?

Mr. Colville

I have decided that in view of the special position of South Queensferry, North Queensferry and Inverkeithing they should be treated as sending areas under the Government evacuation scheme. Parents of school children have been given information about the arrangements and the registration of children whose parents desire them to be evacuated began yesterday.

Mr. Mathers

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to what areas these children are to be evacuated, and whether it will be easy for their parents to visit them?

Mr. Colville

I would rather not say the exact district, but it will not be very far away from their present homes.

Mr. Woodburn

Will the right hon. Gentleman include other places on the Firth of Forth, such as Alloa and Kincardine, or at least stop sending children to those places which are within a bomb’s throw of the Forth Bridge?

Mr. Colville

The hon. Member will recollect that in a relatively small country no place can be declared to be completely safe. I shall be glad to consider any specific proposals, but there is only a limited amount of accommodation in the areas to which the children can be sent.

Mr. Woodburn

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the Firth of Forth is definitely a dangerous area and that bombs dropped from 20,000 feet might conceivably land in Alloa or Kincardine, which at the moment are reception areas?

Mr. Colville

Those places are much farther away than the Queensferry area, which I have agreed to evacuate.

Mr. Gallacher

Will the right hon. Gentleman make an inquiry into the position with regard to other villages right on the edge of the area which are affected in just the same way?

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