§ Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for Energy, in the light of the acute shortage of petrol and diesel fuel in parts of Liverpool including Edge Hill, what steps he will take to remedy the situation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GrayIf specific instances with details of allocations and previous usage are reported to my Department I undertake to investigate these matters. Our supply liaison unit has not received any reports suggesting an unusual state of affairs, so far as fuel supplies are concerned, in that part of the country.
§ Mr. John Carlisleasked the Secretary of State for Energy if any priority will be given to public transport services if the fuel shortage worsens; and whether any contingency plans have been made to reserve stocks for such an outcome.
§ Mr. GrayA scheme of Government-organised priorities would not be justified716W by the present level of shortfall in oil supplies. It is, however, conceivable that such a scheme would be needed if the fuel shortage was to worsen significantly. In this situation, the Government would certainly give careful consideration to the needs of public transport services.
There are no contingency plans to reserve stocks for such an outcome. A priority scheme would require companies to sustain supplies to designated categories of customer, cutting back others as necessary in consequence.