HC Deb 26 February 1948 vol 447 cc351-2W
44. Mr. J. Paton

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will instruct his regional officers to grant a petrol allowance to non-agricultural exhibitors and judges at recognised horticultural shows, so that exhibitors may be able to convey their exhibits to and from the shows and the judges to travel to them in the discharge of their duties.

Mr. Gaitskell

I am advising regional petroleum officers that allowances may, in suitable cases, be made to exhibitors and judges of agricultural products.

61. Mr. S. Marshall

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will consider making a 10 per cent. cut on commercial allocations of petrol to enable him to consider granting a small basic ration to private car owners from 1st April to 30th September.

Mr. Gaitskell

The economies made at the time of the withdrawal of the basic ration included a cut of 10 per cent. in the allowances for goods vehicles, taxis, and hire cars and all business supplementary allowances.

69. Mr. Wilkes

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that regional petroleum officers only allow supplementary petrol allowances to husbands or wives who work away from home; and whether he will now authorise the grant of petrol to men in the Services who are stationed at long distances away from their homes many of whom have been refused petrol for their motor bicycles and who now cannot afford the train fares home.

Mr. Gaitskell

Allowances to men in the Services are made on the same basis as allowances to men in civilian life. I do not consider that in this matter a distinction between them would be justified.

Mr. J. McKay

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that A. J. Walker, 65, The Grove, Gosforth, asked for two gallons of petrol per month to enable him to take his parents one aged 85 and the other 93 years out on occasions as they are too infirm to travel in public service vehicles, and was refused; and will he reconsider this case.

Mr. Gaitskell

Mr. Walker's application was not refused, and now that he has supplied the necessary information an allowance has been issued.