HC Deb 09 July 1946 vol 425 cc52-3W
Major Symonds

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what steps have been recently taken to remove difficulties in the distribution of petrol with a view to enabling people to save their June petrol coupons for use in August awl September; and whether he is trying to increase the supply of petrol for this purpose.

108. Mr. J. Morrison

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the fact that no extra petrol ration is allowed for the holiday months, he will now permit owners of motor-cars to use, at any time between now and the end of October, any petrol coupons they may save up from previous months, in order to enable them to make longer motor-car runs during their holiday.

Mr. Gaitskell

I am afraid that in present circumstances my right hon. Friend cannot extend the existing carryover.

97. Sir J. Mellor

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will amend existing Statutory Orders so as to permit petrol coupons to be banked with retailers.

Mr. Gaitskell

No, Sir To permit this practice would place additional burdens on petrol retailers and increase substantially the difficulties of enforcement.

101. Mr. S. Shephard

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he is now in a position to increase the supplementary ration of petrol for bona fide commercial travellers.

102. Colonel Wheatley

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if, in view of the importance of assisting trade and bearing in mind the large quantities of petrol used by pleasure coaches, he will instruct his regional officers to be more generous in dealing with applications from commercial travellers for supplementary petrol coupons.

Mr. Gaitskell

My right hon. Friend is considering representations on this matter which he has recently received from the National Council of Commercial Travellers Associations.

104. Mr. Lennox-Boyd

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the reason for prosecuting the motorist last week who had lodged his current petrol coupons instead of presenting the coupons at the time the petrol was obtained.

Mr. Gaitskell

If the hon. Member is referring to proceedings at Otley (Yorkshire) on Friday, 28th June, these were taken as a result of inquiries made concerning a deficit of approximately 1,000 gallons in the stock of motor fuel held by a dealer for re-sale. A number of offences against the Control of Motor Fuel Order, 1944, were discovered. Article 1(c) of that Order states that except under the authority of a licence no person shall surrender to a supplier and no supplier shall accept coupons at a time other than that at which the supply of motor fuel is furnished. Altogether, 42 charges were preferred against the owner of the business, the manager and customers, 12 of the charges relating to offences against the above provision of the law

107. Wing-Commander Robinson

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has now considered the resolution, a copy of which has been sent to him, passed at the recent meeting of the Association of Health and Pleasure Resorts urging that additional petrol supplies should be granted during the holiday season to parks departments to enable them to maintain their amenities and to taxicabs in holiday resorts, so that they may meet the demands of the public; and what action he proposes to take on these matters.

Mr. Gaitskell

My right hon. Friend has received a copy of the resolution to which the hon. Member refers and is considering it.