HC Deb 18 December 1947 vol 445 cc376-9W
74. Mr. Tolley

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of supplementary claims for petrol, so far received; the number granted and the amount of petrol involved; what are the average numbers of claims daily being received; what additional number of officials have been engaged, and at what cost in salaries since the abolition of the basic ration.

Mr. Gaitskell

The total number of additional staff engaged since the abolition of the basic ration is 263 plus 46 loaned by other Government Departments. The approximate cost is £6,000 per month. A full reply to this Question could only be extracted from the records kept at the regional petroleum offices with an expenditure of effort which could not be justified in present circumstances. I propose to review the information that can be obtained from the records at regional petroleum offices and I will make a full statement covering the work of those offices in the New Year.

80. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many applications for supplementary petrol await attention by the Regional Petroleum Officer, London Region; and how long it will take before these applications are dealt with.

89. Mr. Nutting

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what amount of petrol has been allocated in the form of supplementary rations against new applications; how this figure compares with the basic ration; and what is the resultant net saving in dollars.

91. Mr. Renton

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that the Regional Petroleum. Office, Cambridge, has failed to deal promptly and efficiently with applications made in the past three months for supplementary petrol coupons; how many applications were received in that office between 1st September and 30th November; how many of such applications have been granted; how many refused; and how many had not been dealt with by 1st December.

Mr. Gaitskell

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply I have already given to my hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Tolley).

90. Mr. G. Williams

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if all motor-car registration books will be returned to their owners by the petroleum officers in time for them to apply for their new licences on 1st January.

Mr. Gaitskell

Every effort will be made to return all motor car and motor cycle registration books to their owners in time for new licences to be obtained. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport will make suitable arrangements for the issue of licences without the production of registration books if it is found to be necessary.

92. Mr. Renton

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that Mr. S. E. Druce, of Sluice Cottage, Alconbury, Hunts, applied on 28th August, 1947, for supplementary coupons to enable him to travel to and from his work, and that he had received no reply from the Regional Petroleum Office, Cambridge, by 4th December, 1947; and whether his application will be granted.

Mr. Gaitskell

Mr. Druce was sent a reply on 8th September to his letter of 28th August, and after further correspondence an allowance of petrol has now been granted.

98. Commander Noble

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when it is expected that a decision will be reached on an application for a supplementary petrol allowance for Standard Twelve EKE 394 which was forwarded to Acton on 22nd September.

Mr. Gaitskell

I regret the delay in dealing with this application. An allowance has now been granted.

104. Mr. Lambert

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will grant to people who live in isolated villages, with no bus service, petrol for recreation.

Mr. Gaitskell

I regret I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend, the Member for North Paddington (Captain Field), on 27th November, on this subject.

110. Sir W. Darling

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many persons are now employed in the petrol rationing system; and what is the estimated annual cost of office accommodation, paper, post-ages, salaries and wages to secure the the present system of restriction in petrol.

Mr. Gaitskell

In Great Britain 1,842 at a total cost of £612,000 per annum. In addition the cost of petroleum rationing in Northern Ireland, approximately 58,000 per annum, is paid for by my Department. The cost of accommodation, postage and stationery is borne by the Departments responsible for those common services and I have no information as to the amounts involved.

114. Mr. Lipson

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he realises the hardship and loss caused to business people and others by the long time he takes to deal with applications for petrol allowances; and if he will now answer the letters sent to him by the hon. Member for Cheltenham on 18th and 19th November.

Mr. Gaitskell

I am glad to say that fresh applications are now dealt with at Bristol within a few days, though appeals naturally take longer. I regret the delay in dealing with the hon. Member's letters. I, myself, have now replied to these.

117. Commander Noble

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power when decisions are expected on the following applications for supplementary petrol allowances: for Packard BPP 353, whose owner, registered as a disabled person, applied to Acton on 2nd September; for DLB 213, whose owner, also registered as a disabled person, applied to Acton on 8th September; and Hillman Ten EGP 435, whose owner appealed to Acton on 3rd November.

Mr. Gaitskell

I am advised that the owner of the first two vehicles is applying for a licence to operate the vehicles as hire cars, and is supporting his application by evidence that he is disabled and that embarking on this type of business will give him the best opportunity of permanent resettlement. In accordance with the normal procedure on such applications, the case was referred to the Ministry of Labour for advice and I am asking them to give their reply as soon as possible. The owner of the third vehicle, having had his first application for a supplementary allowance of petrol refused, asked the regional petroleum officer to reconsider the matter, and put forward a number of additional uses to which the vehicle would be put which were not set out in his first application. The application required further detailed examination in these circumstances, but the case will be decided shortly.