§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is the amount of petrol estimated to have been saved during January as the result of the increase in the price of petrol and the new speed limits on the road; and if he can make an estimate of the contribution made by each factor;
(2) what is the amount of petrol it is estimated it will be possible to save as the result of the increase in the price of petrol and the new speed limits on the road in a full year, on the basis of the experience in January.
§ Mr. John SmithStatistics of inland deliveries of petrol for the month of January will not be available until the first week of March. When they are available I am afraid that they will not form a satisfactory basis for estimating the effect of the increase in petrol prices, and the new speed limits. This is because there are a number of factors which influence petrols sales, including the level of economic activity, trends in consumer expenditure, the weather and many random influences, as well as prices and speed limits; the contribution of each cannot be estimated from one month's figures. It will be essential to have figures for a few months to make even a rough estimate. By the same reasoning several months' figures will be needed before an estimate can be made of the petrol savings in a full year.