§ 3. Mr. Beswickasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that his regional offices deduct the standard ration of petrol for both the last and the current standard rationing period from the one current issue of supplementary petrol; and whether he will direct them to discontinue this practice.
§ Mr. GaitskellYes, Sir. I explained when the standard ration was introduced on 1st June that those who had already received supplementary allowances for the months ahead would have the standard ration for those months deducted from their supplementary allowances for the next period and that they would be well advised, therefore, not to use their standard ration too soon. This procedure is, of course, not appropriate in the case of those applying for supplementary allowances for the six months beginning 1st December since they will already have had the standard ration for the last period deducted in full from their previous supplementary allowance. The procedure has therefore already been discontinued. Deduction of the standard ration for the current period is, of course, being continued until 30th April, 1949.
§ Mr. BeswickDoes my right hon. Friend realise that, in some cases, this means that people get no supplementary ration at all? If they are entitled to a supplementary ration for the first period, is 533 it not clear that they are suffering a hardship by being deprived of all petrol in the second period?
§ Mr. GaitskellNo, Sir, they have not been deprived of any petrol, taking the two periods together. This was the only way to arrange for the deduction of the standard ration in their case.