HC Deb 22 April 1948 vol 449 cc1989-92
27. Mr. Hardy

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why concessions for extra petrol are granted to owners of motor cars to enable them to take into the country relatives who are invalids and unable to walk; and why applications are rejected from other owners who are desirous of taking out invalids who are not relations but who cannot afford to purchase and run motor cars.

Mr. Robens

I am afraid we cannot agree to make supplementary allowances of petrol available to every motorist who wishes to drive an invalid friend. To draw the dividing line between relatives and other persons appears to me to be reasonable.

Mr. Hardy

Does not the Minister appreciate the unfairness of the operation of a regulation which makes provision only for people who can afford to own or run motor cars. They are thereby enabled to take their friends, who may be invalids or disabled, out into the country at any time, whereas people who have not a car cannot possibly do so, although today there are many generous and kind-hearted motorists who are prepared to take out into the country disabled people, many of whom are victims of the first and second world wars?

Mr. Robens

I fully appreciate my hon. Friend's point of view, and I have great sympathy with the victims of the first and second world wars. However, I think he will appreciate that if we were to permit any motorist to have petrol to take any invalid out into the country, it would open the door very wide to abuse.

Lieut.-Commander Gurney Braithwaite

How near must the relationship be to qualify?

Mr. Hardy

It is very kind of my hon. Friend to say he has sympathy, but we should be more pleased if he would have a word with his right hon. Friend with a view to adopting a more humane attitude on this question.

Mr. Robens

I do not mind speaking to my right hon. Friend, but I am perfectly certain that it will not make any difference to the decision that has been made. The answer to the supplementary question of the hon. and gallant Member for Holderness (Lieut.-Commander Braithwaite) is that the word "relative" is fairly generously interpreted, and would refer to blood relatives or relatives by marriage.

Mr. Hardy

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I give notice that I shall endeavour to raise this question on the Adjournment as soon as possible.

29. Sir W. Smithers

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why no reply had been received from the regional petroleum officer at Acton to the application of Mr. Pierpoint Miles, of Kent House, Keston, Kent, which has been in his office since 29th January; why subsequent letters have been ignored, particulars of which have been sent him; and, in view of the fact that Mr. Miles has had no coupons since the issue expiring on 29th February, will he take steps to have the case dealt with without further delay.

Mr. Robens

I regret the delay in dealing with this case. An issue of coupons has now been made.

Sir W. Smithers

Will the Parliamentary Secretary pay compensation to Mr. Miles for the extra expense in which he has been involved through the ineptitude of his Department, and will he take disciplinary action against the bureaucrats concerned?

Mr. Robens

No, Sir.

Sir W. Smithers

Why not? Any ordinary firm would do that.

32. Mr. Turton

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why employees in remote rural areas, where there are no catering facilities at or near their place of work, are being refused E supplementary coupons in order to enable them to return home for a midday meal.

Mr. Robens

In view of the need for economy in petrol, we cannot agree that allowances should be made generally available for this purpose. It is, of course, quite usual for such employees to take their midday meal with them.

Mr. Turton

In view of the need to increase agricultural production, will the Parliamentary Secretary consider removing this disability on rural workers? Why should they be compelled to eat sandwiches all the year round?

Mr. Robens

The same applies to many industrial workers who also live a long way from their place of work.

Mr. Turton

Then, will the Parliamentary Secretary also consider removing the disability in the case of industrial workers who are similarly situated?

38. Commander Noble

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will make a statement on the petrol allowance for members of the Forces on foreign service leave.

Mr. Robens

It has been decided, in agreement with the Service Departments, to re-introduce allowances to members of the Forces on leave in this country from abroad as from 1st June. The amount will be one-third of the level ruling before this allowance was withdrawn last year.

Mr. Baker White

Will that scheme include other servants of the Crown, such as civil servants who have been serving abroad?

Mr. Robens

This Question relates to members of the Forces. I think it would be as well if the hon. Member put down a Question in regard to civil servants returning from abroad.

39. Sir Ian Fraser

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will give an assurance that present allocations of petrol made in respect of mechanically propelled invalid chairs used by disabled ex-Service men and others will be unaffected by any of the proposed reductions in petrol allocations.

Mr. Robens

Yes, Sir.

Sir I. Fraser

Will it also continue to be the practice for the regional officers to treat these individual cases with special sympathy?

Mr. Robens

Yes, Sir.

40. Mr. Keeling

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is now prepared to give an allowance of petrol to small shopkeepers using passenger cars for the collection and delivery of goods on the same basis as shopkeepers using their vans for this purpose.

Mr. Robens

No, Sir.

Mr. Keeling

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that these people could not obtain vans even if they could afford them? Is he aware that this partiality to the bigger businesses is contrary to all the pledges of the Labour Party?

Mr. Robens

There is no partiality shown. It is true that there may be difficulties in getting vans, but many small shopkeepers have vans, and to give shopkeepers unlimited supplies of petrol to carry goods would simply be asking for a gross abuse of the scheme.

42. Colonel Clarke

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will reconsider the application of Mr. P. Marsh, of 66, Bank Street, Golborne, Warrington, for supplementary petrol to enable a near relative suffering from a paralytic stroke, to obtain fresh air and recreation.

Mr. Robens

Yes, Sir, an allowance has now been issued.

44. Mr. Teeling

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will grant an allowance of petrol for the competitions at the Southern Sheep Dog Society's Trials on 20th, 21st and 22nd May at Chichester, Eastbourne and Brighton respectively, about which he has been informed.

Mr. Robens

My right hon. Friend is inquiring into the matter and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Mr. Teeling

Will the Parliamentary Secretary also try to make it public as soon as possible, because there are lots of people coming from the North of England who would like to know about it?

Mr. Robens

We understand the urgency, and we shall certainly do our best to give as much publicity to the matter as possible.