§ 72. Sir John Mellorasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what staff and premises have been released as a result of derationing petrol; and what expense has been saved.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerOne thousand seven hundred and forty temporary officers of my Department are under notice of discharge, as the result of the derationing of petrol. In addition, 280 established officers are being transferred by the Treasury to other Departments. The 1903 annual cost of the salaries saved is about £700,000. The premises which were formerly used as regional petroleum offices are being handed back to the Ministry of Works, who provided and paid for them. I cannot, therefore, say what savings will he made by their release.
I am glad of this opportunity to express again, as I did on 26th May, the gratitude of the Government, and, I believe, of the whole House, to the temporary and permanent officers who, over a period of years, so loyally and ably carried through the difficult task of administering the rationing of petrol.