§ Mr. TIMOTHY DAVIESI desire to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the methods adopted by the Somerset House authorities to ascertain the number of petrol vendors, etc., in London; is he aware that the chief inspector has sent a circular letter to the five London collectors at £800 per annum to make a return of the number in their collection, that the five collectors have sent copies of this circular to the 36 supervisors, and the: 36 supervisors to the 200 officers in London, requiring each to ascertain the number of petrol vendors, etc., in his district; is he aware that these officers and their assistants are now running about to obtain this information; and, seeing that the London County Council keeps a register of all persons licensed by them to store petrol, who are the vendors, will he explain why a letter was not sent from the chief inspector at Somerset House to the London County Council, which probably would have brought him a full list of such persons within a few hours?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGECollectors of Customs and Excise throughout the country have been asked to obtain through their officers certain particulars in regard to vendors of motor spirit, so as to enable the Board to put in operation the duty on motor spirit and to require vendors to take out licences. It was not deemed necessary to treat London differently from other towns.