§ 42. Mr. Lipsonasked the Secretary for Mines whether he will arrange for the additional petrol permits allowed to men on leave from the front to be available at all recruiting offices instead of at only certain ones as at present?
§ Mr. LloydThe special petrol allowances to members of His Majesty's Forces on leave from active service are issued at 114 recruiting centres throughout the country. It is not considered desirable to extend the arrangement to the remaining recruiting centres, the number of which is limited.
§ Mr. LipsonWhen will these permits be available at Cheltenham, so that men will not have to travel 20 miles to and fro to get them?
§ Mr. LloydIn that particular locality other recruiting offices are not properly organised for the purpose.
§ 43. Mr. Saltasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that men in His Majesty's Services returning on leave often arrive at such centres as Birmingham after the local omnibus routes have ceased to operate, many miles from their homes, which they are only able to reach by the assistance of members of the Voluntary Transport Service; and can he therefore grant this service petrol coupons to meet the increasing call made upon its members?
§ Mr. LloydAs announced recently, a scheme is to be introduced as soon as possible to assist members of His Majesty's Forces arriving on leave from active service afloat or overseas, at times when ordinary transport services are not running. This scheme, which will be administered by the Social Welfare Department of the War Office, will provide for the issue of supplementary petrol coupons to volunteers who lend their cars for the purpose. I am sending a copy of the announcement to the hon. Members.