§ 89. Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Fuel and Power 237W whether his regulations permit those persons who have applied for essential petrol but who have not yet obtained the necessary coupons to continue to run their cars on their remaining stocks of petrol until the staffs of his regional offices can supply the necessary coupons.
§ Mr. RobensIf the petrol was obtained against supplementary coupons there would be no objection, but the use of basic petrol in this way is not permitted under the present regulations.
§ 90. Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that some applications for supplementary petrol coupons have been held up for over a month and what steps he is taking to hasten the procedure.
§ Mr. RobensAll possible steps are being taken to deal with applications for supplementary petrol allowances as rapidly as possible. In general decisions are now communicated to the applicants within a fortnight, but at the moment the investigation of appeals takes rather longer.
98. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that many cases have occurred under which regional petroleum offices have sent out petrol coupons to farmers for the three months, December, 1947, January and February, 1948, reducing by one-half the amount that had been allocated for the same period in previous years, with the same amount of tractor work to be done; and whether he will take steps, in conjunction with the Minister of Agriculture, in view of the hindrance to food production, and the delay and annoyance caused by this procedure without any saving of petrol, to reinstate these cuts.
§ Mr. RobensNo, I am not aware of any such cases, but if the hon. Member will send me details of any cases with which he is familiar, I shall be glad to make inquiries.
§ 101. Mr. Byersasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware of the hardship being caused to motorists in rural areas through the delay in granting supplementary applications; and when the hon. Member for North Dorset may expect an answer to the numerous applications which he has forwarded to the Ministry.
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§ Mr. RobensI am informed that in the Southern Region, which includes North Dorset, applications for supplementary allowances of petrol are dealt with in a week or ten days, though at the moment the consideration of appeals takes rather longer. The hon. Member will by now, I think, have received replies to all the letters he has sent to my right hon. Friend.
§ 102. Lieutenant Mullanasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he wilt authorise the issue of a supplementary petrol allowance to persons over 70 years of age who are registered owners of private motor vehicles, in order to facilitate travel for them during the winter months, and to add to the other concessions, where restricted commodities are concerned, which have been granted to elderly persons.
§ Mr. RobensRegional petroleum officers are authorised to grant a limited number of supplementary coupons where the applicant or members of his family residing with him are aged or infirm provided medical evidence is produced that they are completely dependent on the use of a private car.
§ 106. Commander Nobleasked the Minister of Fuel and Power when it is expected to make a decision on the request for a supplementary petrol allowance for Austin Seven, AVL 276, which was forwarded to the Parliamentary Secretary on 30th October.
§ Mr. RobensAn interim issue of coupons has been made pending a detailed assessment of the application.
Mr. Baker Whiteasked the Minister of Fuel and Power when the honourable Member for Canterbury may expect to receive a reply to his letter of 21st October and his reminder letter of 17th November relative to a petrol allowance for the Canterbury Rugby Football Club.
§ Mr. GaitskellThe hon. Member's letter raises a difficult issue of principle which has been most carefully considered. A reply will be sent to him in the next few days.
§ Sir J. Mellorasked the Minister of Fuel and Power why the Midland Regional Petroleum Office did not reply to a request by letter dated 3rd September for 239W supplementary petrol for school and shopping from Mrs. Wormell, of Oak Mount, Windmill Lane, Balsall Common, Warwickshire, although returning her registration book; why her letter of 17th September, enclosing a copy of the previous application, was ignored; and why, notwithstanding her letters of 14th and 24th October, 10th November and many requests by telephone, she has received no response except for a questionnaire, dated 10th October, which she completed and returned; and what action he has taken.
§ Mr. GaitskellI regret very much that Mrs. Wormell's application was mislaid owing to a mistake in sorting. Coupons have been sent to Mrs. Wormell together with a letter of apology.
Major Lloydasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the large number of applications for supplementary petrol, he will now state the actual quantity of petrol which will be saved by withdrawal of the basic allowance, as compared with the original estimates, and the value, in dollars, of the petrol saved.
§ Mr. GaitskellI have, up to the present, no reason to revise the estimates I gave in replies to the hon. and gallant Member for Chelsea (Commander Noble) and the hon. Member for Shrewsbury (Mr. Longford-Holt) on 6th November and 13th November, respectively.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will undertake to make an early statement about the proposed date for the restoration of the basic petrol ration, in view of the fact that delay in this matter will result in more people postponing their holidays until the latter part of 1948 and so undoing all the efforts made to stagger holidays over the longest period possible in the interests of the national economy.
§ Mr. GaitskellWhile appreciating the considerations referred to in the hon. Member's Question, I regret I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwood (Mr. Chamberlain) on 6th November on this subject.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that in some parts 240W of the country shift workers are refused extra petrol to make up for the loss of the basic ration, whilst others are able to obtain it; and what are the general principles adopted in this respect.
§ Mr. GaitskellAllowances of petrol are granted to enable workers, including shift workers, to use their private cars or motor cycles to travel between their residences and places of business where the use of public transport is not reasonably practicable.
§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will explain the reasons for the delay in dealing with applications made by Mr. H. Fowler, 12, Eynsford Close, Petts Wood, Orpington, details of which have been sent to him; and if he will take disciplinary action against those concerned.
§ Mr. GaitskellOwing to the short notice it has not been possible to complete inquiries into this case. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he has considered the application, details of which have been sent him, for an allowance of petrol for Mr. Taylor, of 30 Station Road, Orpington; why there has been delay in acknowledging his letters; and if he will take disciplinary action against the officials concerned.
§ Mr. GaitskellAn interim issue of coupons has been forwarded to Mr. Taylor on the evidence provided by the hon. Member, to whom I will write when inquiries into the case are complete.