asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state when it is proposed to give an allowance of petrol to persons to use their cars in discharge of their duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Petrol Supplies.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state with reference to petrol (a) what increase, if any, has occurred in supplies; (b) what steps have been taken to secure increased supplies; (c) whether he is aware that, in view of the supplies available for a considerable time to the British motoring public, private owners here feel an undue delay has occurred in securing supplies, and (d) when he expects to be in a position to make an allocation to private motor users.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state what steps have been taken by him during the last three months to secure increased supplies of petrol.
I will reply to Questions Nos. 9, 10 and 11 together.
No increase in the quantity of petroleum products (which include petrol) has been made available to this country since the cessation of hostilities. I am aware of the public desire for the restoration of normal motoring facilities and I have taken all steps open to me to secure increased supplies of petrol.
I am not in a position to make any definite statement as to when it may be possible to modify or withdraw the existing restrictions on the use of private motor vehicles, but it may be assumed that any increased supplies which may be received will be made available without delay to petrol users.
Will the Minister say whether the returns published yesterday indicated an increase in supplies for the first eight months of the year? Will he say whether there is any saving in Army consumption at present and what became of the very substantial reserve put by for the Army during the emergency?
The Deputy has asked me a number of supplementaries in relation to some of which I should like to have notice. The trade returns published are no indication of the annual quantity that will be received. We work upon an annual allocation. The whole of that allocation may come in in a particular portion of the year and would be reflected in the trade returns for that portion of the year; but the fact that the quantity imported in the first eight months of this year shows a slight increase over the quantity imported in the corresponding period of last year is not any indication of an increase in the allocation. The fact is that we are receiving under the allocation a smaller quantity of petrol this year than we received last year.
Does that mean that we are worse off at the moment?
Last year we received an additional allocation of petrol as a temporary measure to offset the very abnormal fuel situation which arose over a portion of the year.
Will the Minister say what circumstances are likely to arise during the last four months which will mean that we will get a smaller supply of petrol during those four months of the year?
I explained that we have an annual allocation, a specific quantity of petrol which we will get during the course of the 12 months, and petrol is distributed to the consumers here on the basis of that allocation. That petrol allocated to us does not necessarily arrive in uniform monthly consignments.
Will the Minister say when the allocation for this year was made; whether any conversations have taken place since the termination of hostilities; and whether these suggest that we are to be pinned to the allocation arrived at at the beginning of the year?
The indications are that an increase in allocation is not likely to be made in the immediate future.
Then the Minister is not in a position to indicate that he hopes to make an allocation to private users?
I could not make any forecast.