§ 35. Mr. A. Edwardsasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what class of officers in his Ministry, or connected with the Oil Fuel Board, are allowed to obtain petrol without coupons; and for what reason?
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Fuel and Power (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd)No officers of the Ministry of Fuel obtain petrol without the surrender of coupons. In the case of the Petroleum Board, to which I assume the hon. Member refers, no officers obtain petrol for their own care without coupons, but vehicles operated by the Board in confer
§ for all workers employed and for workers at the coal face, respectively for the last four weeks for which they are available for the following districts: Scotland, Northumberland, Durham, South Wales and Monmouthshire, Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire and Cheshire?
§ Mr. T. SmithIn view of the number of figures involved, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, have them circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. ColegateCan the hon. Gentleman give any explanation as to why the figures for Scotland which he is to send me should be less than half those of Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire?
§ Mr. SmithAbsenteeism is a very complicated subject, and one cannot deal with all the factors which make up the figures. But the hon. Gentleman can rest assured that he will find a complete explanation in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following are the figures:
§ nection with its business are allowed to draw petrol at the Board's own depots without the surrender of coupons.
§ Mr. EdwardsDoes that mean that there are conditions which apply to these two Departments which do not apply to others?
§ Mr. LloydNo, Sir, except that in the case of the Petroleum Board it would seem unnecessary to prohibit them from issuing petrol to themselves until they have given themselves a coupon.
§ Mr. EdwardsIs the hon. Gentleman satisfied that there is an adequate check on the people in this Department, just as in other Departments?