§ 1. Mr. Walker-Smithasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the total allocation of petrol, expressed in gallons per month, to officials of the National Coal Board in their capacity as such.
§ Mr. GaitskellOfficials of the National Coal Board who have to use a car or motor cycle in connection with their work are granted allowances of petrol on individual application to the appropriate regional petroleum officer in the ordinary way. As these applications are not segregated from other applications, I can give no total figure for them.
10. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Fuel and Power why the Midland Regional Petroleum Officer at Birmingham refuses the necessary petrol to bring labour to build council houses in the Droitwich area; and whether he is aware that work on these houses had to be temporarily stopped as a result of this decision.
§ Mr. GaitskellThe necessary petrol has not been refused, and I am advised that work on the houses was not stopped.
§ 39. Captain Fieldasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has now reached a decision as to the possibility of granting supplementary petrol allowances to persons in remote rural areas to meet social needs where public transport services are not available.
§ Mr. GaitskellI have given very careful and sympathetic consideration to this matter, but regret that I cannot extend the scope of the supplementary allowances beyond their present limits.