§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will take steps to see that diesel supplies are maintained in Anglesey and other rural areas where demand is high due to agricultural use at harvest time;
(2) if he will take steps to see that diesel supplies are maintained in areas where there is heavy use by road haulage, and especially Anglesey where there is high demand by Irish traffic;
(3) If he will take steps to ensure that petrol supplies are maintained in Anglesey and other areas where there is high demand due to the tourist trade in the summer months.
§ Mr. GrayThe allocation schemes at present being used by the oil companies are based in most cases on sales to the consumer in the corresponding month of last year, and hence seasonal demands such as harvesting and the tourist trade are taken due account of, as well as the local levels of demand arising from such factors as through traffic from Ireland.
The underlying shortfall in supplies of some 5 per cent. means that all concerned must make every economy possible in their use of diesel fuel and petrol.