§ 4. Mr. A. R. W. Lowasked the Secretary of State for War to what extent priority is given by the relevant civil authorities to applications for building drill halls or garages for Territorial Army units; and what is the machinery for getting this priority.
§ Mr. ShinwellThere is no special machinery for dealing with applications to the local civil authorities in respect of Territorial Army buildings and the response of local authorities to these applications has varied, but my right hon. Friend the Minister of Town and Country Planning has recently asked for the cooperation of local planning authorities in securing prompt decisions on proposed sites for the headquarters and drill halls of Territorial Army units.
§ Mr. LowIs this not a matter of first class national importance? Ought not the right hon. Gentleman to be more directly interested and ought he not to be pressing for machinery to ensure that the necessary drill halls are put up so that they are in time for the recruiting campaign, if it is successful?
§ Mr. ShinwellAll these matters are certainly of first class importance and we are imparting a sense of urgency to them.