§ Mr. Hardyasked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many applications for supplementary allowances of petrol were granted and refused during February, 1948; how many were on hand at the end of the month; and what savings in petrol were achieved.
§ Mr. GaitskellDuring February, 1948, 257,967 applications for supplementary allowances of all kinds were granted, of which 33,590 were first applications; 9,396 325W were refused and 52,396 remained on hand at the end of the month. The number of appeals outstanding at the same date was 18,052. Deliveries in bulk by the Petroleum Board to garages and large consumers averaged 73,000 tons a week in February compared with 74,000 tons a week in January. It was estimated that but for the withdrawal of the basic ration and other economies, deliveries in Janu- 326W ary would have been about 94,000 tons a week, and deliveries in February should have been at least as great. It appears therefore that the net saving in February was about 21,000 tons a week. The total savings in petrol from 1st October, 1947, to 29th February, 1949, are estimated at about 340,000 tons which would have cost about 14½ million dollars at the prices current during this period.