HC Deb 22 January 1948 vol 446 cc368-70
41. Mr. Renton

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is now in a position to make a statement covering the work of the regional petroleum offices; whether he will, in particular, state how many applications for supplementary coupons were received by those offices between 1st September and 31st December, 1947; how many were refused; how many granted; how many had not been dealt with by 1st January, 1948; and how many gallons of petrol were authorised to be used with supplementary coupons.

63. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many applications for allowances of petrol have been received by his officers since the announcement of the cancellation of the basic petrol ration; how many of these applications have been granted; and what is the total quantity of petrol involved.

Mr. Gaitskell

During the period 1st September to 31st December, 1947, 1,753,149 applications of all kinds for supplementary coupons were received in regional petroleum offices. Of these, 1,539,655 were granted, 141,676 refused, and 71,818 remained to be dealt with on 31st December, 1947. The allowances are equivalent to an annual petrol requirement of about 885,000 tons or over 265 million gallons. Some idea of the increase in the burden of work in regional petroleum offices may be gathered by comparing the allowances granted in the above period with those granted in the four months ended 31st August, 1947, namely, 1,090,658 allowances with an equivalent annual consumption of 754,000 tons of petrol, or about 226 million gallons. I am glad to say that the position in regional petroleum offices is ndw very much easier.

Mr. Renton

Is the Minister aware that the distribution of supplementary coupons has been taking place unsystematically and unsympathetically and is causing a great social injustice among all sorts of people in rural areas, and will he use his best endeavours to replace that undesirable system by a fairly administered basic ration at the earliest opportunity?

Mr. Gaitskell

I do not think that the figures I have given suggest that there has been any lack of sympathy in granting these allowances, but I would certainly agree that the administration of petrol rationing without a basic ration is a very difficult operation, and the Government certainly desire to restore the basic ration as soon as possible.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Does the right hon. Gentleman's figure of applications outstanding include those cases in which the applicant has appealed against the refusal?

Mr. Gaitskell

Yes, Sir, it covers all of them.

Mr. Assheton

Will the Minister agree that it is not possible for the staff at his disposal to give careful consideration to the number of cases which he has told us have come before them?

Mr. Gaitskell

No, Sir, I do not agree.

Mr. Tolley

Can my right hon. Friend say at what rate each week supplementary applications are still being received?

Mr. Gaitskell

Perhaps I could have notice of that question.

Mr. Keeling

Will the Minister say whether all the allowances were for six months, or were some for shorter periods?

Mr. Gaitskell

I think that most of them are for the full six months, but I could not say definitely without notice.

Lieut-Commander Braithwaite

Do not the figures which the Minister has given emphasise the importance of decentralising, particularly in the East Riding of Yorkshire?