§ Lieut. - Colonel Bromley - Davenportasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that, despite the statement by his Department that the basic fuel ration for commercial vehicles is based on 50 per cent. of their normal consumption of petrol, many trade associations are maintaining that the basic ration, as announced, will not enable their members to operate for much more than one day a week; whether he will make an early statement as to what steps can be taken to waive all restrictions on the use of commercial vehicles, and what principles will be adopted with regard to supplementary rations.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe basic ration for goods vehicles is not based on the normal consumption of individual vehicles but it amounts in total to one-half of normal consumption of petrol and one-third of normal consumption of derv for the goods fleet as a whole. The individual ration is based on the unladen weight of the vehicle. Supplementary rations will be issued as necessary to permit essential traffics to be carried. Fuel issued in basic and supplementary rations combined will amount in total to 75 per cent. of normal consumption both of petrol and derv, but the individual ration may be either above or below this figure according to need.
76WOn the question of the use of C licensed vehicles, T would refer to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Buckingham (Sir F. Markham) on 29th November.