HC Deb 29 November 1956 vol 561 cc553-4
9. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will impose financial controls to prevent the building of more petrol stations.

Mr. Walker-Smith

Treasury consent under the Control of Borrowing Order is normally needed if more than £10,000 is to be raised for this or any other purpose. The Capital Issues Committee has to be satisfied that any application for consent has a definite urgency under current requirements. I understand that in fact very few cases—and they had very special features—have been regarded as passing that test.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that petrol will be short for a very long time? Is it not irresponsible in those circumstances to allow precious labour and materials to be wasted in the building of more petrol stations when the existing ones have run dry?

Mr. Walker-Smith

If the pessimistic calculations of the hon. and gallant Gentleman are correct, they would, of course, be reflected in a falling off of the applications made to the Capital Issues Committee in this context.

Mr. Bottomley

Is it not the policy of the Government to have less petrol for more pumps? Can the hon. and learned Gentleman tell us whether these controls have stopped the building of petrol stations? It is the impression of some of us that they are being built in considerable numbers. Will he recommend to his right hon. Friend that we ought to reimpose building controls?

Mr. Walker-Smith

The right hon. Gentleman must have missed the last part of my Answer, which made it clear that very few of these cases had been granted consent.

Mr. E. Johnson

Will my hon. and learned Friend keep a very careful watch on this matter? On the outskirts of Manchester a number of very large stations have been built, owned by large oil companies, and they are putting the smaller, old established garages out of business.

Mr. Walker-Smith

My hon. Friend will appreciate that the procedures to which I am referring are those which have been in force under the directive of February of this year.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

In view of the unsatisfactory reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.