§ 23. Mr. A. R. W. Lowasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that in many areas the maximum supplementary allowance of petrol allotted to commercial travellers is insufficient; and whether he will now immediately review his regulations to enable a higher maximum to be given in cases where it can be justified.
§ Mr. GaitskellThe maximum allowances for commercial travellers were increased last February after consultation with the associations representing commercial travellers and the Association of British Chambers of Commerce. I regret that in present circumstances I could not agree to any revision that would result in a further increase of petrol consumption.
§ Mr. LowIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the imposition of a rigid maximum such as exists today results on occasions in firms having to appoint an extra commercial traveller to cover a particular area, and does not this rigid maximum in actual fact result in limiting the amount of work that any one man can do in a day or in a given period? Is that not most undesirable in our present situation?
§ Mr. GaitskellWe considered very carefully, in consultation with representatives of the commercial travellers, whether we could not have another system which, I agree, might be more equitable than the present one, but we all came to the same conclusion that it was quite impracticable.
§ Brigadier Prior-PalmerWill the Minister say why it is not possible to judge each case on its merits and to allocate an extra ration of petrol to a commercial traveller who has a wider area to cover?
§ Mr. GaitskellIt really is quite impossible to administer petrol rationing on the basis of every case being treated on its merits without any rules whatever.
§ Sir T. MooreIs it not recognised, both in the Treasury and in the other Departments concerned, that a motor car to a commercial traveller is a tool of the trade; and did not the right hon. Gentleman himself promise me many months ago that that particular aspect of the subject would be reconsidered with a view to coming to a general decision favourable to the commercial travellers?
§ Mr. GaitskellIt was reconsidered, as I have just explained, but unfortunately we came to the conclusion that a change was impracticable.