§ 4.3 p.m.
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (THE EARL OF MUNSTER)My Lords, perhaps I may interrupt the business of your Lordships' House for a few moments in order to make a statement similar to that which has just been made in another place by my right honourable friend the Minister of Fuel and Power.
In view of the continued uncertainties of the situation in the Middle East, the Government have decided that further measures are necessary to reduce oil consumption. The broad purpose of these measures, which will affect all the main petroleum products, is to make good an estimated shortfall of 25 per cent. in United Kingdom supplies. The measures have been designed to maintain industrial production to the maximum possible extent. They fall under three main headings.
First, a statutory rationing scheme for motor fuels—that is, motor spirit and diesel oil used in road vehicles will come into operation on December 17. My right honourable friend has to-day made the necessary Order. Ration books for private motor vehicles will be made available at main post offices and local taxation offices from this Thursday, November 22. There will be a basic ration, with limited supplementary allowances for really essential purposes. Coupons for goods and public service vehicles will be issued by the regional transport commissioners of the Ministry of Transport, and for farming, industrial and miscellaneous uses by regional petroleum officers. Public passenger transport consumption is to be reduced, on average, by 10 per cent. the cuts varying widely according to the type of service.
Secondly, for non-industrial central heating the present cut of 10 per cent. will be increased from December 1 to one-third on gas/diesel oil and 25 per cent. on fuel oil. Hospitals, nursing homes and similar buildings will continue to be wholly exempted, and the further cut will not be applied to schools, but 401 all will be expected to make every possible economy.
Thirdly, for industrial purposes the present cut of 10 per cent. in gas/diesel oil will be increased from January 1 to 20 per cont. Minimum requirements for the railways and for coal production will be maintained, but diesel oil for agriculture and fishing vessels, which have hitherto been supplied in full, will be cut by 10 per cent. Thanks to the substantial savings that can be made in ships' bunkers and by the Central Electricity Authority, my right honourable friend does not propose at present to increase the 10 per cent. cut on fuel oil for industry. I must warn the House, however, that further cuts in fuel oil may in time become unavoidable.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHMy Lords, it would serve little useful purpose to make any comment upon the deplorable circumstances that have made necessary the making of the statement which has just been made by the noble Earl. I should like to ask him just one or two questions to enable him to inform your Lordships further about certain details. The noble Earl spoke of a 25 per cent. shortfall in supplies. Will he answer this question: a 25 per cent. shortfall in what? And will the noble Earl be good enough to say what will be the basic ration for those members of the public who have to use their motor cars now more than ever for purposes that are essential to their life? Will the noble Earl also inform the House what is to happen to the thousands of nonindustrial consumers of oil who use it for heating their houses, having installed the necessary apparatus because of the difficulty there was last winter in getting solid fuel? There are no past arrangements upon which the authorities can exercise a 25 per cent. reduction in fuel oil. With regard to the 33⅓i per cent. reduction in diesel oil, may I also ask whether there will be any alleviation of this restriction in the case of invalids living in houses, this being perhaps, in view of the varying supplies of solid fuel, the main reason for installing oil heating? And will the noble Ear], finally, tell your Lordships how long Her Majesty's Government expect this "freedom" for the citizens of this country to last.
§ THE EARL OF MUNSTERPerhaps I could answer the questions which the noble Lord, Lord Lucas of Chilworth, has addressed to me by telling him that immediately this short discussion is over one hundred copies of my statement, together with Press notices, will be available in the Printed Paper Office. I think that the noble Lord 'will find, if he will be good enough to read that Paper, that it answers many of the questions which he has addressed to me. As regards non-industrial users of oil, I am not at the moment in a position to give the noble Lord any answer to his question. I will certainly make inquiries and let him know as soon as I can. With regard to the basic ration for motor cars, that will be worked out on a basis of 200 miles per month.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHMy Lords, as the installation of fuel oil-burning apparatus in non-industrial houses has been one of the main activities during the past summer, a 25 per cent. reduction on previous supplies moans nothing. Cannot the noble Earl tell your Lordships here and now on what basis these people are going to be allowed to have fuel oil to heat their houses this winter?
§ THE EARL OF MUNSTERI quite see the noble Lord's point, but at the moment I am not aware what the answer may be. I will certainly let him know, as soon as I can, what is to be done in the case of those who have quite recently put in this non-industrial central oil heating.
§ LORD MATHERSMy Lords, may 1 ask the noble Earl to look at mother side of this matter? He has Liked about decreased consumption. May I point out to him that there is a possibility in this country of increased production of oil, and that the power to bring about that increased production is in the hands of the Government? I am referring to the Scottish shale oil industry, which is in a dwindling condition. Appeals have been made to the Government to give the necessary encouragement. Will the noble Earl see that the Government consider that possibility in the present emergency?
§ THE EARL OF MUNSTERMy Lords, I agree with the noble Lord, and I will 403 certainly convey his observations to my right honourable friend the Minister of Fuel and Power.
§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, may I ask this question: is it proposed, in this rationing scheme, to revive pool petrol, or is it simply ordinary commercial petrol that is being rationed?
§ THE EARL OF MUNSTERMy Lords, it is not intended to revive pool petrol.