asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that there is grave discontent and distress among the wives of civil servants because their husbands are to be evacuated to country districts remote from their homes, while they are left: in the danger areas; that this move will cause trouble and the breaking-up of their home life; whether the policy of taking men and women of the Civil Service out of London is still necessary; arid, in view of this feeling and of general criticism of this policy, will he reconsider the matter?

I am aware that there has been some protest against the separation of civil servants from their families which is a regrettable but unavoidable consequence of the evacuation schemes. The Government are, however, satisfied that the existing policy is still necessary in the public interest.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that some 3,000 civil servants in the Insurance and Pension Departments are being transferred from Government offices at Acton to Blackpool during the first week of the New Year, and that the evacuated premises are to be filled by the staff of other Government Departments, and does he think that is reasonable, equitable and just?

That is not the question which I have been asked, and I should like to have notice of any question of that character.