§ Mr. Challenasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware of the grievance of Malayan rubber planters now on leave in Great Britain that they can obtain only sufficient petrol for 250 miles motoring and have difficulty in obtaining any additional allowance; and whether, in view of the fact that planters in Malaya at present are living under conditions of difficulty and danger which compare unfavourably with the conditions of Service personnel abroad, he will take steps to provide some modifications of the present procedure.
§ Mr. GaitskellI regret that in present circumstances I cannot agree to any increase in the allowances at present made available in such cases.
§ Mr. Challenasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that before a British rubber planter on leave from Malaya can obtain extra petrol he has to show a passport bearing the stamp of the immigration officer from where he comes but that since these stamps as between Malaya and Britain have been replaced by embarkation and landing cards, his officers are obliged to search passports for something which no longer appears on them, with the result that unnecessary delays occur in the issue of petrol; and whether this matter can be remedied at an early date.
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§ Mr. GaitskellBritish civilians who are permanently domiciled in a Commonwealth country are entitled to claim the overseas allowance of 250 miles' motoring and my officers necessarily have to satisfy themselves by inspection of the applicant's passport or equivalent documents that he is normally resident abroad.