HC Deb 28 January 1929 vol 224 cc589-91
41. Sir HENRY JACKSON

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the present position with regard to the proposed regulations on the subject of petrol pumps; and what steps he has taken to secure that the interests of the public are duly protected?

Mr. H. WILLIAMS

I must apologise for the length of my reply, but I think it is desirable that the position of the Board of Trade in this matter should be clearly understood.

The preparation of the regulations has been a long and difficult task, and at every stage my officers have been in close touch with the interests concerned. A draft of the regulations was printed and put on sale in April, 1928, in order that those interested might have the fullest opportunity of making representations.

Due time was given for the receipt and consideration of criticisms, and, on the I5th November, a Conference was held at the Board of Trade with representatives of the Local Authorities, the Oil Companies, the Pump Manufacturers, the Garage Proprietors, the Automobile Association and the Royal Automobile Club. At this Conference an amended draft of the regulations was examined point by point, and while, in the nature of the case, on certain matters of detail, there was some divergence of view, I think it may be said that the result was generally recognised as providing a set of regulations which should be generally effective and satisfactory. One or two questions of detail were dealt with subsequently in discussions with the parties specially interested.

The final revision of the draft regulations is nearly completed. It is hoped to make them shortly, to provide that they shall come into force on the 1st April, and as from that date no pump can be installed which is not of a pattern certified by the Board of Trade.

As allegations have been freely made that the regulations admit of certain types of pump which are liable to be inaccurate, I think I should explain that in the case of measuring instruments it is the statutory duty of the Board of Trade to be satisfied that the patterns used are "not such as to facilitate the perpetration of fraud." The work of examining patterns is carried out by the expert staff of the Board. These officers arrive at their conclusions by reference to technical considerations, and it is not their business to say whether one certified pattern is or is not superior to another. No pump is perfect, and one pattern may be nearer to perfection than another; the Department's business is to satisfy itself that the design reaches a certain reasonable standard of reliability, and in issuing certificates, as in drafting the new regulations, this is the end that has been kept in view.

Mr. R. MORRISON

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that he has now given a complete answer to the statements that have been made by members of his own party that the present Regulations give a preference to foreign-made pumps as against British?

Mr. WILLIAMS

I have not seen any references to any particular matter of that kind. I was giving a detailed answer to the question. As far as I am aware, the Regulations are reasonable, fair and satisfactory.

Commander BELLAIRS

Has the question of the beauty or otherwise of these pumps been gone into?

Mr. WILLIAMS

We have no control over aesthetic matters.