HC Deb 15 May 1950 vol 475 c833
16. Mr. Gerald Williams

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what estimate he has made of the petrol that will be consumed by overseas visitors, other than those from Canada and the United States of America, during the year.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

It is estimated that the petrol used in 1950 by overseas visitors, from countries other than Canada and the United States, will be about 12,000 or 13,000 tons.

Mr. Williams

Would the Minister consider giving a third more, as many of these overseas visitors are very aggrieved because people coming from the United States receive 33⅓ per cent. more petrol than they do? As it is a small amount, could the Minister give those visitors an extra third?

Mr. Noel-Baker

The hon. Member's question is the first adverse comment I have heard about the decision to give more petrol to dollar visitors than to others. I think it is generally understood how important it is to increase our dollar tourist traffic.

Air-Commodore Harvey

Does the Minister not realise that visitors from the Commonwealth—Malaya and elsewhere—are making just as large a contribution to the earning of dollars?

Mr. Noel-Baker

We have largely increased the allowances to visitors from the Commonwealth.

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