HC Deb 16 December 1954 vol 535 c1951
8. Brigadier Medlicott

asked the Minister of Education if, in connection with grants for village halls, he will bear in mind the special problem of the fringe areas around cities and towns, where there is often a great shortage of community centres of this kind.

Sir D. Eccles

Yes, Sir.

9. Brigadier Medlicott

asked the Minister of Education to state the plans for the making of grants to aid the provision of village halls, with particular reference to areas such as East Anglia.

Sir D. Eccles

I shall consider applications for grants for village halls as they are made, and I hope to receive such proposals from East Anglia.

Brigadier Medlicott

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the fact that in many villages the hall provided by the Church, British Legion, or some other organisation is often the centre of village life, and can he devise some way of helping to provide for the construction or maintenance of these halls?

Sir D. Eccles

These grants apply to new halls. I am not sure whether my hon. and gallant Friend is talking about new buildings of existing buildings.

Mr. W. Paling

As the Minister, in his recent speech, promised to issue a new circular about this matter, can he tell us when it will be issued?

Sir D. Eccles

Circular 283, which deals with this subject, was issued about a fortnight ago.