§ Lord LUCAS of CHILWORTHMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage the use of two grades only of petroleum spirit for petrol driven road vehicles.
§ Lord STRABOLGINone, my Lords. Demand for the various grades of petrol is largely dependent on the number of types of cars.
§ Lord LUCAS of CHILWORTHMy Lords, does not the Minister think that some investigation would be worth while from the point of view of both energy conservation and more orderly marketing of what is now becoming a very expensive substance?
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, we think—and I am sure this should appeal to the noble Lord and his noble friends opposite—that this should be left to market forces.
§ Lord LUCAS of CHILWORTHMy Lords, does not the Minister agree that the market forces to which he refers are held entirely in the hands of the oil supplying companies who have a monopoly position? Does he not also agree that this is not in the best interests of the country in either of the two areas I have mentioned?
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, there has been a steady trend over the last five years to four-star and two-star. For example, in 1978 80 per cent. was four- 860 star and 12 per cent. was two star, as against only 1 per cent. for five-star.