§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will consider the present practice of retailers of pricing petrol in non-tenderable amounts; if he will consider amending the Price Marketing (Petrol) Order 1980 to prevent this practice; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Sally Oppenheim[pursuant to the reply, 20 March 1981, c. 200]: Although some motorists may find 382W this practice irritating, it would not be in the public interest to prohibit it. It would reduce the scope for local competition if only ½p price steps were available and it would probably lead to prices being rounded upwards rather than downwards. At present all prices registered on petrol pumps are in tenderable amounts. Moreover, many motorists purchase their petrol by money's worth rather than by a specific quantity.