§ 64. Sir ARCHIBALD WILLIAMSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that many people are unable to let their houses in rural districts for the months of August and September owing to the uncertainty of petrol supplies; and whether he can now make a statement regarding the plan to be adopted for regulating supplies and the probable percentage of normal consumption which will be available in those months for trade cars and private cars, respectively?
Mr. HARCOURTI have no special information on the point raised in the first part of my hon. Friend's question, but I fear that from the beginning of next month it may be necessary for a time to restrict, by a system of licences, the supply of petrol for the use of trade cars by some 40 per cent, of the supplies 847 desired. In the case of private cars the amount of the restriction will certainly be greater.
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if, in addition to limiting supplies, the Board of Trade or the Controlling Committee will undertake to see that the supplies to which people are entitled are made available?
Mr. HARCOURTI can only say that supplies will be distributed to those who have a right to receive them.
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONDoes the right hon. Gentleman know that if he were to place one steamer of 15,000 tons capacity at the disposal of the various enterprises concerned there would be enough petrol for everybody?