§ 89. Mr. MORRISasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the members of the Sub-committee appointed to investigate petrol and benzol prices possessed an intimate knowledge of the trade; and, if not, will he consider the desirability of the subject being re-examined by experts?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNone of the members of the Sub-committee appointed to 1087 investigate motor fuel were actually engaged in the trade, but all the members of the Sub-committee had the advantage of hearing some 20 witnesses called to give evidence, many of whom possessed a very intimate knowledge of the trade. It is not proposed to adopt the suggestion of my hon. Friend regarding the appointment of a Committee of experts, but I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on the 22nd March, to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Barnstaple.
§ Mr. BILLINGAre we to understand that nothing further is to be done in reference to ascertaining whether or not the present petrol combine are exploiting the public of this country?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNo, Sir; that is not to be understood.
§ Viscount CURZONCan the hon. Gentleman state what is being done?
§ 90. Mr. MORRISasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Report of the Sub-Committee appointed to investigate petrol and benzol prices does not distinguish between crude benzol and refined motor benzol; that to produce one gallon of motor benzol it requires 1.6 gallons of crude benzol; that the Sub-Committee recommended the price beyond which crude benzol should not be sold as 1s. 4d. per gallon, and the equivalent cost of one gallon of refined benzol would be 2s. 1½d. per gallon; that 6½d. per gallon is the cost of refining, and 5d. per gallon is the value of the residuals, leaving nett cost of one gallon at 2s. 3d.; that the cost of distribution and garage profit equals 9½d., bringing the total cost to the public to 3s. 0½d.; and that the maximum sale price recommended by the committee is 2s. 8d. per gallon, showing a loss of 4½d. per gallon; and what steps will be taken to protect the producers and distributors of this home-produced fuel from the above-mentioned error and prevent the sellers of benzol from being prejudiced in the eyes of the public?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANRepresentations have been received from the National Benzol Company to the general effect indicated in the question. The matter is still under examination.