§ Mr. M. Philips Priceasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what is the amount of petrol saved to date by the abolition of the basic ration, after deducting the amount of petrol granted under the supplementary allowances.
§ Mr. Asshetonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the saving effected by the abolition of the basic petrol ration.
§ Mr. GaitskellDeliveries of petrol in bulk by the Petroleum Board to garages42W and other large consumers averaged 73,000 tons a week during December; and it is estimated that had the basic petrol ration not been withdrawn and other economies made deliveries would have been about 90,000 tons a week. The net saving during December appears to have been about 17,000 tons a week. The total saving from 1st October to 31st December is estimated at 160,000 tons, which would have cost over seven million dollars at present prices. Approximately four-fifths of the saving is attributable to the withdrawal of the basic ration and one-fifth to the other economies.