HC Deb 23 October 1950 vol 478 cc2474-5
34. Sir Ronald Cross

asked the Minister of Works what licences he has granted for the erection and extension of Labour clubs in Haydock, Newton and Wigan; whether he will state the reasons for the grant of these licences; and whether he is prepared to grant equally liberal facilities for the improvement to public houses and other political and non-political clubs in these areas.

The Minister of Works (Mr. Stokes)

Licences have been granted for the erection or extension of four Labour clubs in these areas because of structural defects or inadequacy of the former premises. Licences would have been issued in the same circumstances for any other clubs, political or non-political. If a similar need could have been shown for public houses, they would also have received licences.

Sir R. Cross

The right hon. Gentleman says that licences have been issued for the remedying of structural defects, but is it not a fact that licences totalling £21,000 have been issued for the erection of a new Labour Club at Blackbrook and that another licence has been issued for £11,500 for the erection of the Labour Club at Haydock, opposite the existing club? Are these not facts?

Mr. Stokes

I do not know about the first one—I am not briefed on it—but as far as Haydock is concerned the new building cost £8,500. Perhaps I should add, for the information of the right hon. Member, that a licence was also issued to a Conservative club.

Mrs. Braddock

Will my right hon. Friend review the whole question of issuing licences where there are difficulties of getting bricklayers to work on the housing programme in areas like this? Is he aware that there is a lot of resentment in Liverpool that a licence for £1,268,000 was issued to Lord Woolton for the building of Lewis's?

Mr. Stokes

I cannot deal with the last part of that question, because I do not know the facts, but I can assure my hon. Friend that the question of these licences is really very closely watched. Where there is a shortage of building labour or material they are not issued at all.

Mr. Sutcliffe

Since the areas concerned are all represented by Labour Members of Parliament, is not this a flagrant case of political discrimination?

Hon. Members

No.

Mr. Stokes

The question happens to refer to Labour clubs. If the House wishes to know it, a licence was issued to the Conservative Club at Newton-le-Willows and to the British Legion. If more information is required, I shall be very glad to give it.

Sir R. Cross

Can the right hon. Gentleman give instances of where he has issued licences on this sort of scale for the erection of clubs of other parties and non-political clubs?

Mr. Stokes

I am sure that I could, with notice, but not in the constituency of the right hon. Member, except for the club to which I have referred.