§ Sir J. Mellorasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will identify the statutory rules and orders now in force affecting the hiring of motor vehicles; why each order is still required; and when he expects to remove these restrictions.
§ Mr. Shinwell:The regulations governing the use of petrol in private hire cars and taxicabs are contained respectively in Parts II and III of The Control of Motor Fuel Order, 1944 (S.R. O. 1944 —No. 281), as amended by The Control of Motor Fuel Order, 1945 (S.R. O. 1945—No. 513). Special allowances of petrol are granted to these vehicles to meet the normal transport needs of the localities which they immediately serve. So long as the shortage of petrol supplies renders rationing necessary, I am bound to impose a measure of control on the journeys for which petrol may be used in hire cars and taxicabs. When the basic petrol ration was restored and the supplementary allowances for private cars were increased last year, the allowances for hire cars and taxicabs were increased and the restrictions on the movement of 38W these vehicles were relaxed. I do not feel able to grant any further relaxation at present.