HC Deb 18 March 1948 vol 448 cc2259-61
11. Mr. Sparks

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will prohibit the granting of petrol for stag and fox hunting purposes including the maintenance of hunting establishments.

18. Mr. Anthony Greenwood

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power under what circumstances petrol is made available for purposes connected with stag hunting, fox hunting and other blood sports.

19. Mr. House

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power on what grounds was an allocation of petrol granted to the Master of the Hunt in regard to her use of a motor car in following the Quantock Staghounds on the 8th March this year.

Mr. Gaitskell

On the recommendation of the responsible agricultural executive committee, regional petroleum offices grant allowances of petrol to masters of hounds for purposes connected with the hunt. As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for West Wolverhampton (Mr. H. D. Hughes) on 16th March, such an allowance was made to the Master of the Quantock Staghounds. I understand that it is used for following the hounds only to the extent that it is necessary to carry out the purposes mentioned by my hon. Friend.

Mr. Sparks

Is the Minister aware that it is totally unnecessary, if stags and foxes have to be destroyed, that they should be chased by scores of dogs—[HON. MEMBERS: "Hounds."]—and scores of spivs and drones——

Mr. Gallacher

Eels and butterflies.

Mr. Sparks

—across cultivated fields, leaving a great deal of damage in their wake, and will he, therefore, reconsider this matter and put an end to this wasteful expenditure of petrol?

Mr. Greenwood

Will my right hon. Friend reconsider his policy in this matter? If it is a question of the meat involved, will he make an allocation of petrol coupons to a decent, respectable butcher who would do the job much better and, if it a question of getting rid of vermin, it could be done much more effectively by one man on a bicycle?

Mr. Gaitskell

I am reluctant to become involved in a battle over blood sports. I am advised in this matter by the Ministry of Agriculture, and I propose to continue to take their advice.

Mr. Martin Lindsay

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it would be wrong to use a temporary shortage of petrol as a form of censorship?

Mr. Gaitskell

indicated assent.

Mr. Gallacher

Why not use the butcher?

Mr. Shurmer

Does the right hon. Gentleman think it fair for large horse boxes to be moved around the country to the meets whilst working men have to lay up their cars and allow them to deteriorate?

Mr. Gaitskell

That is an entirely different question.

23. Sir Waldron Smithers

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give the reasons for the delay by the Regional Petroleum Officer at Acton in answering letters from Mr. C. E. Fox, of 72, Bork-wood Way, Orpington, particulars of which have been sent to him.

Mr. Gaitskell

I do not appear to have received the particulars to which the hon. Member refers, but I understand that the Regional Petroleum Officer has been in communication with Mr. Fox for some time over his appeal for an increase in his supplementary allowance of petrol. I regret the delay in dealing with Mr. Fox's letters, which was due to pressure of work in the regional petroleum office.

Sir W. Smithers

Does not the Minister realise that under State control, administration breaks down, and that the frustration and delay thus caused is one of the major impediments to national recovery?

Mr. Gaitskell

I am sure the hon. Member will agree that we must try to keep these Government staffs down in number.