§ Mr. Crowderasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he will give an undertaking that consumers of gas and electricity who economise forthwith in their consumption of fuel will not be penalised under the proposed rationing scheme by finding that their allotted quota is based on their reduced consumption during the present months;
(2) whether he is aware that, in view of the proposed scheme for rationing electricity and gas, many persons are now using as much as possible in order to qualify for the maximum ration; and whether he will make some announcement to discourage this unnecessary waste?
§ Captain WaterhouseMy right hon. Friend will do his best to ensure that consumers who economise forthwith in the use of gas and electricity will not be penalised in the rationing scheme on that account, and my hon. Friend may rest assured that, if there are unpatriotic consumers who are wasting gas and electricity in the hope of qualifying for a larger ration, they shall not benefit thereby.