§ 85. Captain BARNETTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether motor cars driven for private hire in the Metropolitan area, which had been adapted for coal gas at the suggestion of the Petrol Control Board, have now been forbidden to do the work for which they have been adapted; and, if so, whether, seeing that the recent Order will throw out of employment a number of men over military age who have been doing work of utility and convenience to the public, he proposes to take any action in the matter?
Sir A. STANLEYI have been asked by my right hon. Friend to answer this question. The use of private hire motor cars driven by means of gas is not prohibited, but is restricted, under a recent Order of the Board of Trade, to necessary purposes 744 only. In view of the need for observing the utmost economy in labour and material, it is regretted that it is not possible to allow the use of hire cars, whether driven by means of gas or petrol, for pleasure purposes. Owners of hire cars fitted with gas apparatus ordered prior to the 21st December, when the notice of intention to restrict the use of gas in motor vehicles was announced, will be granted permits on application to run these vehicles for the purposes authorised by the Order.
§ Sir C. HENRYCan the right hon. Gentleman state why the same restrictions are not applicable to cars driven by electricity?