HC Deb 16 July 1946 vol 425 cc1034-9
30. Mr. Keeling

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that the allowance of petrol for motorboats is inadequate in both summer and winter; and whether he proposes to increase it.

36. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Cuthbert Head-lam

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when he proposes to end the rationing of petrol.

44. Mr. Butcher

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps he takes to-make local inquiry as to the needs of the public for private hire purposes in any district; whether a public inquiry is held; and on what information his decision to refuse petrol on such grounds is based.

Mr. Shinwell

I propose to make a statement on relaxations of petrol rationing at the end of Questions.

Later—

Mr. Shinwell

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made it clear in the statement he made yesterday that although the American loan has been ratified we have to utilise the additional dollar credits which will now be available in a number of directions. With the provision of dollars that can be made I have endeavoured to spread the relaxations in petrol rationing over as wide a field as possible. I have decided to increase the basic ration by 50 per cent. This concession will absorb more than half the additional supplies I shall be able to make available. To give more in this direction would be unfair to the more essential consumers.

Motor cycles have hitherto been given allowances which provide a rather larger mileage than for cars. I propose to continue this. The changes I am making will also give a larger increase in the case of the smaller and more economical machines, those under 250 cubic centimetres. This is due partly to the practical difficulty which arises over the supply at petrol stations of quantities of less than half gallons, but the decision is also justified by the fact that the motor cycle is an economical form of transport, largely used as a means of getting work people to their work.

The next category of user I have to mention is what is known as the "semi-essential" class. There are at present some 330,000 cars in this class, including those used by commercial travellers, insurance agents and a large number of other professional and business people who use motor cars in connection with their business. A considerable proportion of the motorists in this class have up to now been somewhat severely rationed, and I should like to have been able to give a larger increase in these cases. Administratively it is not practicable in the time available to re-assess the needs of such a large number. The increase in the basic ration will help, and I propose, for the current issue of "S" unit coupons only, to increase their value by 50 per cent. Before the next general issue of "S" coupons I will consider whether I cannot increase the maximum allowances so as to help the categories of greatest need. At the same time some reduction may have to be made in the case of those who under the general increase now to be made will secure greater benefit than their circumstances justify.

I have received strong representations from associations of owners of hire cars and taxicabs that the present restrictions on radius of operation are no longer justified in view of the public demand for this type of motor transport. I have carefully considered these representations and propose to remove these restrictions. I also propose to give increased allowances of 25 per cent. In view of these concessions I appeal to owners of hire cars and taxicabs to see that the local services, which they are primarily designed to meet, are maintained. There is a large number of cars in what is known as the "essential" class and in the case of many of these, existing allowances are already sufficient to cover the essential needs of their owners. With increasing industrial activity I propose, however, to authorise the regional petroleum officers to make rather more generous allowances where these can be justified.

These relaxations will require the provision of very considerable additional supplies. Where the increases are made available by an increase in the value of the petrol coupons the change will be effective from 1st August, and all coupons which are valid during August and subsequently will carry the higher value. Thus all owners of cars and motor cycles entitled to the basic ration will be able to use in August, at the higher value, coupons for July which under the present carry over system have not already been used. This will assist the holiday traffic. As can well be realised the readjustments involved will throw much additional work on the staffs of the regional petroleum offices, and I would appeal to motor car and cycle owners not to write to these offices unnecessarily, particularly during the next few weeks. In present circumstances I regard the concessions I have announced as making a substantial contribution to the improvement of our inland transport facilities which will bring benefit to the whole of the community. I am issuing a statement to the Press giving particulars showing how the relaxations will be implemented and in this I include particulars in respect of some smaller miscellaneous categories with the details of which I need not burden the House.

Captain John Crowder

What is the position regarding "E" coupons? The Minister has stated that "S" coupons will be increased by 50 per cent. in value, but he has said nothing about "E" coupons.

Mr. Shinwell

These are the essential coupons, and in our opinion, as I have stated, the allowances are sufficient for the purposes desired. I propose, with the improvement in the industrial activity, to instruct regional petroleum officers to deal with this case.

Mr. Blackburn

Can the Minister give the estimated increase of the annual dollar expenditure involved by this relaxation?

Mr. Shinwell

I rather think that the financial aspect is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Sir I. Fraser

Will the Minister instruct his officers to be particularly generous to users in rural areas?

Mr. Shinwell

I think that in fact they are.

Mr. W. J. Brown

Are motor boats included in the special categories to which the Minister referred at the end of his reply?

Mr. Shinwell

Yes, Sir, motor boats are included in the miscellaneous categories, and I hope to do something for them.

Mr. Stokes

While I am sure we all welcome the announcement which the Minister has made, may I ask him whether he will explain to the House how the dollar exchange comes into it? Does he not regard Abadan as in the sterling area? Is it not right that Abadan could supply all our needs?

Mr. Shinwell

I have explained these matters to the House before—in the Adjournment Debate last Thursday, for example. Of course, if we used all the oil in the sterling area for United Kingdom purposes, we could obviously make ourselves self-sufficient; if the oil came in and we were assured of supplies, it would be all right. But we have a very large export trade in oil, and, indeed, oil is our largest export. We have to purchase dollar oil on the short hauls, which saves tanker space and saves dollars on tankers. Therefore, we use dollar oil on short hauls instead of sterling oil, and on the whole I think it is to our advantage.

Mr. Keeling

Will the Minister give an assurance that an allowance will be made to motor boats in the autumn, and also during the winter, which will be not much more wintry than the summer?

Mr. Shinwell

We had better wait and see. As regards motor boats, I have explained that we shall certainly do what we can to assist.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

While I thank the Minister for his quite substantial concession, is he aware that there is a Motion on the Order Paper, signed by over 100 Members who represent over 6,000,000 electors, advocating the abolition of rationing altogether, and will he, therefore, proceed with further relaxations as conditions become easier?

Mr. Shinwell

I have said over and over again that nothing would please me more than to abolish petrol rationing, but administratively it is difficult, and it is costly. I would not care to give any assurance, and I would advise hon. Members to look in the columns of "The Times" of this morning and see what has happened in a particular place.

Mr. Leslie Hale

Will the Minister state whether the abolition of mileage restrictions includes the abolition of the restrictions on picking up return fares?

Mr. Shinwell

As to the picking up of return fares, I am not sure that that is not a matter for the Minister of Transport. I cannot say what the radius restrictions are, or whether they will be abolished completely.

Mr. Turton

Will the Minister give an assurance that absolute priority is given to all applications for petrol for agriculture to get in the harvest?

Mr. Shinwell

We must naturally do all we can to assist agriculture, and that will be done, but I beg all Members and the public not to press too hardly on the regional control officers, because they are very hardly pressed at the present time.

Mr. Mathers

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that private car hirers, as compared with taxi hirers, have all along considered themselves to be placed in a disadvantageous position, and in giving this same percentage increase he is simply perpetuating that position? Will he take that into account in any further steps he takes in relaxing petrol rationing?

Mr. Shinwell

I have every reason to believe that the hire car people will be very satisfied.

Major Peter Roberts

How does the Minister propose to assist ex-Servicemen who have already applied for petrol to take up commercial travelling but have been refused? It seems to me that they are not going to get any assistance.

Mr. Shinwell

They are going to get a lot of assistance. If the hon. and gallant Member will examine what I have said and look at the statement on implementation, he will see that everybody will be satisfied.