HC Deb 10 October 1939 vol 352 cc153-5
36. Mr. Ridley

asked the Secretary for Mines how many applications for supplementary petrol rations still remain to be dealt with in the North Midland area; and on what date it is expected they will be cleared?

The Secretary for Mines (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd)

There are no outstanding applications for supplementary petrol allowances in the North Midland area.

37. Mr. T. Williams

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that serving officers and men who possess motor-cars and who cannot obtain supplementary petrol rations are prevented from visiting their families when they secure their few hours, leave each week; and will he look into the matter at an early date, with a view to increasing this allowance?

Mr. Lloyd

Where the basic ration is not sufficient for serving officers and men to visit their families while on leave, application can be made to the divisional petroleum officer in cases where other means of transport are not available.

Mr. Williams

Have any applications met with success?

Mr. Lloyd

That has always been part of the scheme. There may have been misunderstandings in the Press.

39. Mr. Lunn

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has considered letters dated 20th and 27th September, 1939, from an organisation claiming to represent 16,000 commercial road users appealing for an increase in the amount of petrol allowed to them; whether he can state whether he will accede to their request; and to what amount?

Mr. Lloyd

The letters in question have been received from the Associated Road Operators whose membership comprises, among other commercial road users, operators of what are known as private hire services; and it is only in regard to the petrol allowances for these services that representations have been made. A meeting has since been held between officials of my Department and representatives of the association concerned at which certain major difficulties were discussed. The association has promised to furnish additional information necessary for the proper consideration of the claims.

Mr. Hayday

Will the hon. Gentleman undertake to consider the national scope of these public licensed vehicles in order that there shall be a more equal distribu- tion of petrol in the various provincial centres, as I have written to him on the matter?

Mr. Lloyd

I am considering the question of the private hire services. It is a difficult question, because of the possible element of luxury consumption involved.

Mr. Benjamin Smith

Is the hon. Gentleman unaware that in regard to commercial vehicles the arrangement between road transport and the railways has more or less collapsed, and that the attitude of his Department in limiting supplies of petrol is having that effect; and will he reconsider the question?

Mr. Lloyd

The question of rationing for commercial vehicles is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport.

60. Sir Stanley Reed

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, with a view to conserving the national supplies of petrol and oil, and to making any surplus available for essential purposes, such as agriculture, motor transport and the motor cars of commercial travellers, it is intended periodically to review the extra allowances to private individuals?

Mr. Lloyd

The motor fuel rationing scheme is designed to secure that supplies are available to meet essential requirements. Allowances for private cars will accordingly be reviewed from time to time in the light of this consideration.