HC Deb 11 June 1947 vol 438 cc122-3W
Mr. S. Shephard

asked the Minister of Works if he will give an indication as to when permits will be granted for the building of village halls.

Mr. Key

The pressure on the building industry has not eased since the hon. Member raised this matter in April of last year and it is more than ever necessary to reserve resources of building labour and materials for housing and other priority work. I am, therefore, unable to say when it will be possible to issue licences freely for the erection of village halls. My officers are, however, prepared to consider sympathetically, in consultation with the local authority, individual applications for licences in districts where priority work will not be prejudiced.