HC Deb 06 February 1945 vol 407 cc1931-2W
Sir R. Tasker

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power why lamp oil and paraffin are rationed in the Home Counties, including London, as they are no longer rationed in the counties of Essex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Major Lloyd George

Supplies of paraffin oil to the public are not rationed at the present time, and dealers are receiving each month the same amount of oil as they received in the corresponding month of last year. A scheme was, however, introduced eighteen months ago to ensure that the classes of the community who most need this fuel, namely, those solely dependent upon it for cooking, lighting or heating, receive priority of supplies. During the last few months the difficulties attending fuel supplies in the Eastern Region, which includes Essex and Hertfordshire, were found to be exceptionally acute and, in order to relieve this situation, the Petroleum Board was authorised to make additional supplies of paraffin oil available to dealers wherever it was clear that applications made for such supplies were to alleviate real hardship. It has not been found necessary to take similar measures in other regions, and in the London area it has been found possible to deal with the problem within the scope of the existing priority scheme.

Sir R. Tasker

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is aware that the Petroleum Board have offered to release additional quantities of lamp oil provided the retail merchant discloses to the Board the names and addresses of their customers; and why the Board wants such information.

Major Lloyd George

The allocations of paraffin oil, which are being made to dealers by the Petroleum Board under the directions of my Department, are the same as those made twelve months ago. If any dealer wishes to apply for additional supplies, it is necessary for the Board to ensure that the demand is to meet genuine hardship, or new business of an essential character which is not already being supplied by another dealer; or, if the new business comprises a smaller paraffin dealer who is to be supplied by the dealer applicant, that the former has not already applied for and received additional supplies from the Board direct. These precautions are necessary to ensure that there is no duplication or waste in supplies of an imported fuel.