§ 29. Mr. J. Langford-Holtasked the Minister of Fuel and Power, what is the total amount of petrol consumed annually by the three fighting services and all Government Departments; and what percentage reduction in this amount would be necessary to effect a similar saving to that made by the abolition of the basic petrol ration.
§ The Minister of Fuel and Power (Mr. Gaitskell)I am informed that service consumption of petrol at home and abroad for the year ending 30th June, 1948, is estimated to be approximately 620,000 tons. It is also estimated that consumption by Government Departments for the same period will be about 100,000 tons, approximately two-thirds of this being for the vans and lorries of the Post Office, Ministry of Works, etc. Total consumption by the Services and Government Departments is therefore less than the estimated saving on the basic ration.
§ Mr. W. J. BrownWould the Minister be good enough to tell us what the estimated cost of that 620,000 is?
§ Mr. GaitskellNot without notice.
§ Mr. R. S. HudsonIs the right hon. Gentleman now in a position, if a Question is put down about it, to give us the total consumption of fuel oil of all kinds by the Services?
§ Mr. GaitskellThat question should properly be addressed to the Minister of Defence.
§ Major Legge-BourkeCould the right hon. Gentleman say what weight of petrol is consumed under the auspices of the British Forces by taxis circulating in Germany, particularly in Berlin?
§ Mr. GaitskellNo, I could not.