HC Deb 02 July 1940 vol 362 c655
28. Mr. Lipson

asked the Secretary for Petroleum whether he will arrange that the basic petrol ration for a motor car shall, like the supplemental, be determined by the purpose's for which the motor car is required and not by its horse-power?

The Secretary for Petroleum (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd)

In present circumstances I do not think that the adoption of the hon. Member's suggestion would, on balance, be an advantage.

Mr. Lipson

Is my hon. Friend aware that many commercial travellers who are using low horse-power cars for business purposes are very much concerned because people with higher horse-power cars who use them for joy riding get much more petrol and will he at least see that a more generous supplementary allowance is given to people who use their cars for business purposes?

Mr. Lloyd

I will consider any representations that the hon. Member makes.

Mr. Garro Jones

Will the hon. Gentleman also give full consideration to the cost in shipping tonnage and naval tonnage of every gallon of petrol which is used unnecessarily in high horse-power cars; and would it not be possible to secure a substantial diminution in the consumption of petrol by requiring lower horse-power cars to be used on Government service?