§ 1. Colonel GREIGasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the privilege granted to wounded officers who have suffered disablement by loss of limb in the present War, and are thereby maimed for life and rendered unfit for further fighting use, to have a licence to obtain petrol for excursions in the open air as the only means of exercise to keep them in health, ceases immediately they are discharged from the Army and become civilians; and whether he will take steps to amend the Petrol Regulations or so restrict the use of petrol by civilians and others as to permit such officers the use of petrol for taking reasonable exercise for the purpose aforesaid?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Sir A. Stanley)I am aware of the facts to which the hon. and gallant Member directs my attention, and I regret that the necessity for securing the effective administration of the Motor Spirit Restriction Order precludes the possibility of granting the special permits which would confer the privilege in question upon disabled soldiers who have been discharged from the Army.
§ Colonel GREIGCannot the right hon. Gentleman see his way so to amend the definition of "hospital purposes" as to include a reasonable use for this purpose of petrol for such officers and men?
§ Sir A. STANLEYI have very carefully considered this matter, and I think to adopt that suggestion would be to introduce a loophole in the administration of the Order which would make it impossible for us to go on.