§ 18. Mr. Greyasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is prepared to make a statement as to whether an extra allocation of petrol will be available to motorists for the Summer holiday season.
§ 28. Mr. Errollasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in view of the steadily improving world supplies of petroleum, he can now say when he will abolish petrol rationing.
§ Mr. GaitskellAs the House will recall, from 1st May onwards, no further deductions from supplementary allowances will be made in respect of the standard ration, the annual cost of which will therefore increase from 120,000 tons to about 360,000 tons of petrol. At this level it will certainly absorb the whole of the savings obtained from suppressing the black market. In view of the fact that any additional imports of motor spirit have to be paid for in dollars, and since, as the Economic Survey points out, 2264 we still have a serious dollar deficit, the Government have decided that no permanent increase in the standard ration can yet be afforded.
Nevertheless, in view of the substantial recovery which has been achieved, it has been decided to issue a special summer holiday bonus. This will be done by doubling the value of the coupons for June, July and August in the next standard ration book, so that for these months, each coupon will be worth its face value in gallons instead of half its face value as at present. In order to assist those who wish to take their holidays early, I have arranged for the new books to be available early in May, and I propose to make all the coupons valid from the date of issue. They will continue to be valid, as in the case of the present book, for the five months following the month shown upon them. Thus the value of the next standard ration book will be increased from approximately 540 miles to 810 miles of motoring, and motorists will be able to use all or any of the coupons in the book from early in May till the end of the Summer.
§ Mr. GreyWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him if he is aware that he made the statement after the Sowerby by-election?
§ Mr. GaitskellI am sure the House will agree with me that the actual statement itself is almost as important as the result of the Sowerby by-election.
§ Mr. ErrollCan the Minister say whether this welcome increase will be given without any increase in the current rate of motor taxation?
§ Mr. GaitskellThat is hardly a question to address to me.
§ Mr. John PatonCan my right hon. Friend give the House any estimate of the quantity required for this additional concession?
§ Mr. GaitskellAbout 90,000 tons.
§ Mr. LipsonIs my right hon. Friend aware that in the view of an Independent Member of this House he is doing very well?
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanWill the right hon. Gentleman give consideration to the month of September and to adjustments in the case of Scotland, where September is a very important month of the holiday season?
§ Mr. GaitskellThe coupons are equally valid in September as they are in June, July and August.