§ 29. Mr. Graham Whiteasked the Secretary for Mines whether he will take such steps as may be necessary to secure that the rationing of petrol does not prevent the completion of public air-raid shelters and other essential air-raid precautions?
§ Mr. BernaysI have been asked to reply. I am informed that adequate supplies of petrol are available for work of this kind. If the hon. Member has knowledge of any case where difficulty has arisen and will let me have the necsessary particulars, I shall be glad to have inquiries made.
§ 30. Mr. Harold Mitchellasked the Secretary for Mines whether he will consider granting an extra petrol ration to firms who have had some of their lorries requisitioned to enable them to utilise their remaining lorries as far as possible, and thereby minimise the present in equality of sacrifice as between individual firms?
§ Mr. BernaysExtra petrol in addition to the basic ration is available for necessary work. A firm which has had part of its fleet of lorries requisitioned is likely to have more of such work for the remainder and, therefore, to receive additional fuel for them.
§ 31. Mr. Simmondsasked the Secretary for Mines whether it is proposed to issue vouchers for petrol supply to industrial organisations in units larger than five gallons?
§ The Secretary for Mines (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd)Yes, Sir. Coupons to the value of 10 units, 50 units and 100 units are available and have been issued to those who use petroleum for industrial purposes. Where such users have storage for bulk supplies a single permit for the necessary quantity has been issued in a number of cases.
§ 32. Mr. Simmondsasked the Secretary for Mines whether it is intended that motorists shall be required to continue to make application for their allotment of petrol every other month or whether pro vision will be made for longer intervals?
§ Mr. LloydNew ration books will be issued to motorists with effect from 23rd November, but I am not yet in a position to fix the period which will be covered by the second issue.
§ Mr. SimmondsWill my hon. Friend try to make this as long as possible because the staffs in the divisional petroleum offices are very large and unnecessarily so, and they are also working very long hours, and any extension of the ration period before the issue of the books would greatly assist the staffs?
§ Mr. G. GriffithsWill the hon. Gentleman, when rationing next time, consider the doctors, who are very short of petrol and therefore cannot visit their patients?
§ Mr. LloydInstructions have been given to divisional petroleum officers that they should give special consideration to the case of doctors. As regards the question of my hon. Friend, I think that the staffs are not unduly large having regard to the great volume of work at the initial period.
§ Mr. MaxtonIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the widespread opinion among users of motor vehicles that, if the quality of spirit were substantially improved, a greater mileage could be secured?
§ Commander Sir Archibald SouthbyWill my hon. Friend consider extending the ration of petrol to people like commercial travellers in view of the necessity of keeping the trade and industry of this country going?