§ 24. Sir Waldron Smithersasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the change-over from the issue of red petrol to white petrol involves cutting down the supply to certain traders by about 50 per cent. as in the case of which particulars have been sent to him, thus restricting their trading activities: and if he will review this matter.
§ Mr. GaitskellOn the general question raised by the hon. Member I would refer him to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton-on-Tees (Mr. Chetwynd) on 27th January. The 1821 applicants in the two cases which the hon. Member has sent me both received allowances from the Regional Petroleum Officer up to last year. They then converted their cars, and obtained C licences and allowances from the District Transport Officer of the Ministry of Transport on the higher scale applicable to goods vehicles. Now that the definition of private cars has been altered so as to include dual purpose vehicles and thus prevent their obtaining red petrol, the applicants are naturally being granted the same allowance as they originally received from the Regional Petroleum Officer.
§ Sir W. SmithersIn view of the fact that the Government are crying out for increased production for export, does not the Minister realise that the mobility of the traders of this country is raw material for the export trade, and will he facilitate their mobility by granting as much more petrol as possible?
§ Mr. GaitskellIf it were a question of assisting the export trade, we should be glad to look into it, but this is a question of stopping a racket.
§ Mr. TurtonHas the Minister instructed his regional petroleum officers on the lines of the pledge he gave on the wireless and in this House?
§ Mr. GaitskellWithout further information as to the exact details of the pledge, I am not prepared to answer.
§ Mr. TurtonThat nobody should lose by the changeover.
§ Mr. GaitskellI never gave any such pledge.