HC Deb 28 January 1957 vol 563 cc119-20W
105. Mr. Blackburn

asked the Paymaster-General why prospective Parliamentary candidates are being given a much greater petrol allocation than Members of Parliament.

Mr. Maudling

The requirements of prospective candidates must be met out of the block allowance issued to constituency agents for party political purposes. The unanimous advice of the three main political party organisations was that the maximum allowance issued for all constituency purposes to the agent of a party with a prospective candidate should be higher than that issued to the agent of a party with a sitting Member.

109. Sir I. Fraser

asked the Paymaster-General how much petrol has been allocated to Members of Parliament and to political parties, both collectively and as far as the average individual allotment is concerned.

Mr. Maudling

Supplementary allowances for Members of Parliament are issued by the Fees Office on a monthly basis. For the first month of rationing 471 Members have received allowances totalling 5,661 gallons for all purposes, including constituency and Parliamentary activities and business and professional requirements. The average issue is thus about 12 gallons.

Final allowances for political party purposes remain to be decided in the light of a review by constituency agents of their applications, which is now being made at the request of the Department.

Mrs. Mann

117, 118 and 119. asked the Paymaster-General (1) how many constituencies are regarded as qualifying for the maximum petrol allowance of 3,750 miles each month; what limit is placed on the number of applications per constituency; and how the basis of 25 miles to the gallon compares with the usual calculation for doctors, nurses and business people in these constituencies;

(2) in how many constituencies the prospective candidate has claimed the 2,500 miles per month petrol allowance; and what limit has been set to the number of prospective candidates in such constituencies;

(3) how many constituency parties without a prospective candidate have claimed their petrol allowances up to 1,750 miles per month for use by agents and other officers; and what limit has been set to the number of such parties in any one constituency.

Mr. Maudling

Constituency agents of the three main political parties may apply for a block allowance for political purposes based on minimum essential requirements, subject to an upper limit which depends on the nature of the constituency and whether or not the party concerned has a prospective candidate. Applications on behalf of other parties are treated on their merits. The same conversion factor regarding miles to the gallon is applied to these block allowances as to all others. The actual amounts of the allowances will be decided in the light of a review which the Department has requested constituency agents to make of their applications.