HC Deb 14 May 1946 vol 422 c186W

122 Mr. De la Bèere asked the Minister of Fuel and Power, if he will dispense with the agricultural application form R. (M.S.) 6, for petrol for tractors, and substitute a simple card to be signed certifying that the vehicles and requirements remain the same as for the previous month, in view of the waste of time, paper and money under the present method.

Mr. Shinwell:

The prescribed application form R. (M.S.) 6 which covers a two-monthly period is used for agricultural lorries and stationary engines as well as for tractors. The petrol requirements of these vehicles and machines vary considerably, according to the season of the year. The substitution of the card suggested by the hon. Member would not result in any economy, quite apart from the fact that if an application were made in such a form the applicant would not be under any legal obligation to use the petrol solely for the purposes for which he has applied. I have considered the possibility of extending the two-monthly rationing period to three months, but regret that owing to considerable administrative difficulties, I am unable to make any change at the present.