§ Sir F. Markhamasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, during the present petrol rationing period, he will cancel restrictions on C licence holders so as to enable them to carry return loads and thus help to save fuel.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe Government have had under examination the question of how during the period of fuel rationing vehicles operating under C licences could make the maximum contribution to the saving of motor fuels. They have considered whether a general relaxation of the provisions of C licences should be made, but have come to the conclusion that at present this complete departure from the licensing system would not be justified.
The Government is, however, most anxious that C licensed vehicles should be enabled to carry full loads and that pooling arrangements between groups of firms should be made possible. The Government is therefore asking the licensing authorities for goods vehicles to consider sympathetically the issue of a short-term B licence to the holder of a C licence to enable him to carry in addition to his own goods the goods of another person or persons which would otherwise have been carried in a C licensed vehicle belonging to that other person. To obtain such a B licence it will, of course, be necessary to show that there will be a material saving in fuel.