§ Sir G. Foxasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether the invitation issued by the petroleum officer for the Southern Division to all motorists to register for emergency driving jobs is to be taken as a command; whether similar invitations have been issued in other parts of the country; and how far acceptance of the invitation governs the amount of petrol to be granted to those motorists to whom this communication is addressed?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe printed slip in question is not a command but an invitation to motorists to volunteer for the Volunteer Car Pools controlled by the Ministry of Home Security. It was issued by the regional petroleum officer, Reading, in the envelopes containing petrol coupons, at the request of the Regional Commissioner, who wished the appeal to be brought to the notice of motorists with the maximum economy of labour and postage. Other regional petroleum officers 1487W have co-operated similarly. Volunteers receive the coupons needed for their voluntary duties from the Volunteer Car Pool. Acceptance or rejection of the invitation does not affect the petrol allowances made by the regional petroleum officer.