§ 6.36 p.m.
§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, I beg to ask the question standing in my name. May I be permitted to apologize to your Lordships, and particularly to the noble Lord who is going to reply, for the fact that I 511 had to postpone this question from Tuesday, when I was unable to be present?
[The question was as follows:
To ask His Majesty's Government, whether in view of their intention to continue petrol rationing and the increasing public dissatisfaction at the lack of any adequate explanation for this restriction in peace-time, having regard to the world statistical position relating to petrol supplies and the increasing tanker tonnage available in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, they will now make a full explanation of the reasons for such rationing, indicating the precise extent to which it depends on supplies of petrol and tankers, the desire to conserve dollar resources, the desire to discourage expenditure of money on private motoring, and the desire to reduce expenditure of money, materials and man-power on roads, tyres and maintenance and repairs of motor-cars; and also whether such rationing is in any way linked with the proposal to nationalize road transport and to impose permanent limitations on the use of all classes of road vehicles; what is the number and cost of the staff involved in petrol rationing, and whether the number has been increased during the past six months; what is the cost of printing the necessary coupons.]
§ LORD CHORLEYMy Lords, the sole reason for the continuation of petrol rationing is the need to conserve dollar resources. The petrol requirements of the sterling area are in excess of the petrol produced by British-controlled companies and the excess has to be bought from dollar resources. None of the other factors mentioned by the noble Lord has entered into consideration in connexion with petrol rationing. The number of staff engaged on petrol rationing on November 1, 1946, was 1,847 and the approximate cost is £500,000 per annum. The staff increased to 1,894 at September 1, but it has since fallen and shows a general downward trend. The cost of printing the basic ration books and the coupons relating to supplementary allowances is approximately £41,000 per annum.
§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, in thanking the noble Lord for his reply, may I ask 512 whether he noticed that a statement was published in The Times—I forget the exact date—which stated that the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company was producing this year 20,000,000 tons of fuel oil as against 10,000,000 tons before the war. While one quite understands the need to conserve dollar resources, one knows that, for instance, Iraq or Iran is not the only source of oil fuel within the sterling area. Many people cannot understand why it is continuously necessary to go outside the sterling area in order to obtain petrol. There is—
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DOMINION AFFAIRS (VISCOUNT ADDISON)My Lords, may I, with great respect, interrupt the noble Earl to point out to him that he is not in order in making a speech on this matter? According to the rules of the House, he is entitled to ask a supplementary question arising out of the reply. It is not our custom to make a speech and I hope he will help us by observing the rules.
§ EARL HOWEI beg the noble Viscount's pardon. My lapse is due to my inexperience in these matters. I will certainly observe the ruling which he has so rightly laid down. May I ask just this one question? We are told that petrol rationing has got to go on. The new licensing period begins on January 1. Can the noble Lord hold out any hope whatever with regard to next year to the enormous number of people, amounting to nearly 3,000,000, who own and run motor vehicles on the roads of this country to-day?
§ LORD CHORLEYIn answer to a question which the noble Earl put in this House about a fortnight ago, I made a very full statement on behalf of my right honourable friend, and I am afraid I have nothing to add to that.