§ 10. Sir ARCHIBALD WILLIAMSONasked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the information obtained by the Petrol Committee, he can state approximately the proportions of consumption of petrol by the Government, for trade purposes, including public vehicles, and by private consumers?
§ The FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS (Mr. Harcourt)According to the census recently taken, private consumers desired somewhat less than half the amount desired for trade purposes. I do not consider it desirable to specify the requirements of the Government.
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONWhat is the total amount required by private consumers?
§ Mr. HARCOURTI do not carry all the figures in my head. I will give all the figures to-morrow.
§ 18 Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the total amount of petrol as revealed by the recent census in the United Kingdom; what is the estimate of the import of petrol for the three months ending 31st October next; (2) what amount of petrol out of that now in the country and the estimated import is reserved for naval and military purposes, respectively; what proportion of the balance is allotted to commercial and private cars, respectively; and (3) if he can make a statement as to the basis upon which the Petrol Committee has allocated petrol permits; and 2042 whether any effort has been made to distinguish between those users who have estimated at less than their usual requirements and those who have dishonestly increased their demand, or whether all alike have been cut down in the same proportion?
§ Mr. HARCOURTThey raise certain points in regard to which I do not think that it is desirable in the national interests that information should be made public, but I hope to-morrow to have the opportunity of making a general statement on the supply and allocation of petrol, and I shall be glad if the hon. Gentleman will await that statement.
§ 26. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked what was the total import of petrol from the United States of America for the first six months of 1914, 1915, and 1916?
§ Mr. HARCOURTThe imports of petrol consigned from the United States of America amounted in the first six months of the year to 14,740,000 gallons in 1914, 32,260,000 gallons in 1915, and 23,920,000 gallons in 1916.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSIs that for the whole year?
§ Mr. HARCOURTIt is the half-year in each of the three Years.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSCan the right hon. Gentleman account for the falling off?
§ Mr. HARCOURTI think, perhaps, I may be able to account for it to-morrow. It is probably owing to the shortage of tank steamers.
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONWill the right hon. Gentleman to-morrow give us the figures not only for the United States but for other places?
§ Mr. HARCOURTYes, I am having all the figures which can safely be given without danger to the Army and Navy purposes.