HC Deb 04 March 1948 vol 448 cc510-3
29. Mrs. Leah Manning

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will give instructions to his regional petroleum officers to make a small grant of petrol to smallholders who live some distance from their smallholdings, on production of proof that they are producing a substantial amount of foodstuffs.

Mr. Gaitskell

Regional petroleum officers already have instructions to grant allowances in appropriate cases, where the food is made available for sale to the public.

Mrs. Manning

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many people are producing large amounts of food which they use for themselves and relatives, and which they do not make available to the public, but that they cannot reach their smallholdings without cars or motor cycles, and thus food and their land will be wasted? Cannot something be done?

Mr. Gaitskell

One has to draw the line somewhere in these cases, and it is undoubtedly a fact that to grant petrol freely for this purpose would lead to serious abuse.

Mrs. Manning

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I have not asked for it to be granted freely, but that I have asked for it to be granted on production of proof that a large amount of food is being produced?

Mr. Gaitskell

It would be practically impossible to check how much food was being produced by individual smallholders.

3o. Mr. Touche asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the issue of petrol allowances for motor lawn mowers this summer.

Mr. Gaitskell

Yes, Sir. After considering the representations which have been made in another place, and after consulting my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, I have given instructions that small allowances for motor lawn mowers shall be made available in appropriate cases, to cover the period April to September inclusive.

35. Brigadier Peto

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power on what grounds and on whose authority the Regional Petroleum Officer at Bristol refuses to grant any supplementary petrol coupons to certain owners of motor cars carrying a hackney licence, particulars of two such cases having been sent to the Minister on 25th February, 1948.

Mr. Gaitskell

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr. Renton) on 22nd January, 1948.

Brigadier Peto

Will the Minister state clearly what authorities have to be consulted in cases of this sort?

Mr. Gaitskell

I explained on that occasion that we sought the advice of the police as being in the best position to advise us on local transport conditions.

36. Mr. Keeling

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why petrol for the collection and delivery of goods is granted to retail tradesmen who have vans but not to tradesmen who have only passenger cars.

Mr. Gaitskell

Allowances for private cars are granted for collection of goods where retail tradesmen could not otherwise obtain delivery from their wholesalers and for delivery of goods where customers could not otherwise be supplied.

Mr. Keeling

Since when? Has not the right hon. Gentleman received from me at least four cases where petrol was refused under instruction from his office?

Mr. Gaitskell

Because the cases were not covered by the statement I have just made.

Mr. Keeling

Oh yes, they were.

Wing-Commander Hulbert

Does not the Minister think it generally desirable that where a trader has a private car he should use it for the purpose of his business rather than be forced to buy a new van?

Mr. Gaitskell

I do not think it is at all necessary that traders should use private cars for delivering liquor, which was one of the cases.

40. Mr. Odey

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many gallons of petrol were issued for pleasure purposes for motor boats and yachts with auxiliary power in private ownership as distinct from crafts available for public hire during the months June to September inclusive for the year 1947.

Mr. Gaitskell

I regret that this information is not available.

Mr. Odey

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the quantity involved or the dollar saving cannot be very much? Will he, therefore, reconsider the whole question?

Mr. Gaitskell

No, I cannot undertake to reconsider this. There are issues of principle involved.

43. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power for what purpose county councils are entitled to issue petrol coupons to councillors other than to attend meetings of the council on fixed dates or committee meetings convened for particular purposes; and if he will now authorise county councils and other local authorities to issue petrol coupons to enable councillors to keep in touch with their electorates and to investigate local problems.

Mr. Gaitskell

The regional petroleum officers, and not the local authorities, issue petrol coupons to councillors. The petrol is authorised for attending council and committee meetings, and for other journeys directly connected with the business of the council, where the use of alternative forms of transport is not reasonably practicable. I have no reason to think that these arrangements do not work satisfactorily, and am not prepared to alter them.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Does the right hon. Gentleman intend that ruling which he has just read out to cover the case of county councillors making journeys necessary to keep in touch with their constituents, sometimes in large and scattered constituencies?

Mr. Gaitskell

Generally speaking, no.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Why not?