HC Deb 02 December 1948 vol 458 cc2155-6
19. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will reconsider the case, particulars of which have been sent to him, of a lady previously granted supplementary petrol on medical grounds but now refused any grant on the sole ground of the retrospective deduction from such grant of the amount of standard ration.

Mr. Gaitskell

I have considered this case very carefully and can find no grounds for altering the decision. As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary has pointed out to the hon. Member, the lady in question is in fact receiving considerably more petrol over the 12 months than she did before the introduction of the standard ration.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Is not it a fact that a compassionate allowance on the grounds, of very serious medical disability has been refused, mainly because of the right hon. Gentleman's decision to deduct retrospectively the amount of standard ration, and if this is the inevitable consequence of the system, is it not some reason for reconsidering the whole system?

Mr. Gaitskell

I have always made it plain that the standard ration would have to be deducted, and it was always made clear that in this kind of case there would have to be a retrospective deduction. The fact remains that the lady in question has received more petrol than she would have done if there had been no standard ration.