§ 3. Mr. Francis Noel-Bakerasked the Minister of Fuel and Power for what reason the allowance of petrol for foreign visitors who borrow motor cars free of charge in the United Kingdom can be granted only once in respect of any one motor car during the six-month period, rather than only once in respect of any one visitor; and whether he will revise the present arrangement so that more than one visitor may borrow the same car during the period.
§ Mr. GaitskellBecause it is necessary to minimise the risk of this special allowance for foreign visitors becoming in effect an illicit additional ration for some British motorists. The answer to the last part of the Question is, accordingly, "No, Sir."
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIs my right hon. Friend satisfied that there is no other way of checking on the bona fides of people using the scheme, because it seems a little illogical that the identity of the motor car, but not of the borrower, should determine the amount of petrol granted for six months?
§ Mr. GaitskellI could not agree that it is illogical. If my hon. Friend's suggestion were adopted we should be running the risk of losing a great deal of petrol through the black market.
§ Mr. Langford-HoltIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that advertisements in the United States, issued on behalf of His Majesty's Government, give the impression that plentiful supplies of petrol are available in this country for visitors?