§ 65. Wing-Commander Hulbertasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will amend the regulations to permit car owners who have petrol left in their tanks to use their cars up to 31st December.
§ 81. Mr. J. Morrisonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will allow petrol still unused, to be used in cars in December, in order that those living in rural areas may foregather for Christmas.
§ Mr. GaitskellThe time limit of 30th November was fixed after full consideration and I am afraid that I cannot agree to extend it. I am, however, considering whether it is possible to make some concession to persons in remote rural areas to meet social needs where public transport services are not available.
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§ 68. Lieut.-Commander Braithwaiteasked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many new officials have been appointed to his Department as the result of the abolition of the basic petrol ration and appeals arising therefrom.
§ Mr. GaitskellI would refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Stockport on 3rd November.
§ 78. Sir F. Sandersonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that it is estimated that his decision to abolish the basic petrol ration will cause a loss of £300,000,000 per annum of business of private motoring and its associated expenditures; and in view of the fact that the saving will be less than ⅓ of 1 per cent. of our foreign trade deficit and that it cannot be justified on economic grounds, will he reconsider his decision.
§ Mr. GaitskellI know of no reliable estimate of the loss of business that may be entailed by the abolition of the basic petrol ration, though I would agree that the urgent measures necessary to put right our balance of payments may well diminish turnover for those supplying goods and services to the home market which we cannot any longer afford. As I stated in my reply to an earlier Question, the saving due to the abolition of the basic ration represents approximately 2 per cent. of the dollar deficit at the present price of petrol. I explained to the House in the Debate on 29th October why this saving is considered essential, and I regret that the matter cannot be reconsidered.
§ 84. Mr. Chamberlainasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is prepared to consider the re-introduction of a small allowance of basic petrol early in the new year.
§ Mr. GaitskellI regret that I cannot say when it will be possible to re-introduce a basic petrol ration. This must depend on how soon we can afford the dollar expenditure involved.