§ 74. Mr. Errollasked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much of the estimated saving of £9,000,000 per annum in foreign exchange as the result of the reduction in the consumption of petrol can be attributed to the abolition of basic; and how much to other economies.
§ 75. Mr. Heathcoat Amoryasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the actual or estimated dollar saving to the latest convenient date resulting from the abolition of the basic petrol ration.
§ Mr. GaitskellI would refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean (Mr. Philips Price) on 21st January.
§ Mr. ErrollIs it not a fact that the abolition of the basic ration accounts for little more than one-half of the total savings?
§ Mr. GaitskellAbout four-fifths.
Mr. AmoryWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has made any allowance for the loss of foreign currency consequent on the abolition of the basic petrol ration? Does he not now agree that an equivalent saving could have been attained by alternative economy measures involving far less hardship, frustration and loss of time to the community, and much less wasted time on the part of the hard-pressed police?
§ Mr. GaitskellThe statistics to which I have referred related only to the direct saving; they did not take into account either indirect savings or indirect losses.
§ Mr. Peter RobertsWill the Minister say whether, in the figures he gave previously, the 10 per cent. overall cut for all petrol users was taken into account?
§ Mr. GaitskellYes, Sir.