68. Mr. T. WILSONasked the President of the Board of Trade if private firms of traders that have been using their motor lorries three and four days a week to carry war material for the Government are being refused permits to enable them to purchase petrol; and whether he will prohibit the sale of petrol to the owners of motor cars that are used for pleasure or non-essential purposes, so that persons who are engaged on necessary and essential work may be supplied with petrol?
Sir A. STANLEYI should be happy to ask the Petrol Control Committee to in- 944 vestigate any ease which the hon. Gentleman may have in mind in which traders using motor lorries to carry war material for the Government have been refused licences for the purchase of petrol for the purpose. As has previously been stated, petrol licences for the purchase of petrol by owners of motor cars used for pleasure or non-essential purposes are not now being issued.
§ Mr. WATTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Petrol Committee state, when appealed to, that they have not the power to increase supplies of petrol to users?
Mr. WILSONCan the right hon. Gentleman say that permits are not now being issued for the use of private persons?