After Question Time today I submitted a question for immediate answer and the Ceann Comhairle said that he had disallowed the Private Notice Question as it did not satisfy the criteria of urgency under Standing Orders. I asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he will state why, in view of his recent statement on oil supplies, filling stations in the country have had to close at 6 o'clock each day and all day on Saturday and Sunday while customers are rationed to an inadequate supply of petrol even when the stations are open, and if he is also aware that supplies of fuel oil are being refused to domestic customers, schools and farmers and if it is his opinion that all this is being caused by the oil companies refusing to release normal supplies pending substantial price increases. I had to accept the ruling of the Ceann Comhairle that this was not a matter of urgency, but if the Minister responsible or the Ceann Comhairle would come with me to the area where I live or anywhere else they would soon find out how urgent the matter is.
Last week quite a number of people told me they were rationed to £2 or £3 worth of petrol and the managers of the petrol stations said they had not enough petrol to meet the demand. They suggested they would make a register of customers and do their best to ensure that they got petrol. I understand that greedy people who had very little else to do went around from station to station filling their tanks with whatever petrol they could get. A petrol attendant told me yesterday about a man who kicked up a row when told that as he was a stranger he could only have £1 worth of petrol and it then transpired that the tank could only take 57p worth of petrol. Such people cause trouble for themselves and everybody else and I am not very much interested in them.
I am interested in the situation which has been created by the Minister responsible for this Department stating on a number of occasions reported on radio, television and in the newspapers that there is no real shortage of petrol and that if everybody bought normally everything would be all right. His wonderful solution was the proposition that a restrictive sales order might be introduced by the Government and he is considering making an order to compel garages to sell a minimum of £5 worth of petrol at a time. This was reported in the Evening Press on 2 April 1979.
For some reason petrol is not being sent out to petrol stations. It is my opinion that the oil companies are hoarding a large amount of petrol. If we are to believe the CSO, as I suppose we must, twice as much petrol was imported last month as in the previous month and it would appear that very large supplies of petrol are being held in the country. I would ask the Minister to confirm or deny that this is because a substantial price rise is pending and people want to make more millions on top of the many millions they have made on petrol supplies during the past few years.
I usually fill the petrol tank in my car on Saturday afternoon and top it up on Monday or Tuesday. I use £13 or £14 worth of petrol per week in the course of my work as a Member of this House. Last Saturday I called to the garage as usual at 2.30 and discovered that it was closed. On making inquiries I discovered that it had been closed all day and would not open again until Monday. I went to some other stations and it was explained to me that they had to ensure that their customers got a supply of petrol. I met numerous people along the way who had the same story. I ask the Minister to say whether there is a shortage of petrol. If there is, why not ration it to ensure that everybody gets a fair share? Why try to pass the buck to petrol stations, particularly to the attendants who have the almost impossible job of dealing with people? The Minister should state categorically whether there is a shortage of petrol. If so, will arrangements be made to ration petrol? If there is not a shortage, will the Minister use the power of this House to ensure that petrol companies are not allowed to hold on to vast supplies of petrol in order to make a quick buck when the price rise comes?
I have spoken to a number of proprietors of petrol stations and many of them have not received supplies for a fortnight. When they contact the petrol companies they are told the petrol will be sent out, but it does not come. I do not want to make a party political issue of this. The problem affects everybody, but particularly those who are forced to use cars in going to and from work or use them in the course of their work. The suggestion that people should have to buy £5 worth of petrol is ridiculous. It is even more ridiculous that a Minister should state that there is not a grave shortage of petrol while the petrol is simply not available. If the petrol is available, why is it not being distributed in the normal way? Is there anything the Minister is prepared to do to ensure that the country does not grind to a halt because of the bungling of somebody in the Department or in the oil companies?
I know the Minister made the comment that precedence should be given to hospitals and those requiring oil for industry. I will not quarrel with that. I understand that behind the scenes a far more definite instruction was given and the position is that fuel oil is not to be issued for domestic purposes or for the heating of schools. In fact, some old folks' homes have found it impossible to get fuel oil. The man who buys a load and delivers it in my own area tells me that he will not get his supply and may go back to the horse and cart if he is to continue in business. He is only one of many. Farmers may get only 100 gallons of oil when they formerly got 500 gallons, although they will use that amount in less than two days in doing necessary work in this fine weather. If there is a shortage of oil let us be told about it and let it be explained. Who will get the oil and when will they get it? Is it necessary to introduce a rationing system? Rumour has led to the development of a black market in fuel oil. I would hate to see the situation arise that arose during the war years where one could get anything one wanted for a huge price. This should not be allowed.
Everybody will understand if the Minister comes forward and sets out the position. Simply to say at a dinner that there is no shortage and try to blame somebody else is not good enough. The Minister must come out in the open and tell us what he knows about this. It will be no reflection on the Government if there is an oil shortage due to circumstances outside their control. I know the problems; I was a Member of the Government during the last severe shortage of oil and I know what steps must be taken to ensure that industry, farming and so on can be carried on. Nobody will blame the Government for a fault that is not theirs, they will only blame the Government if the Minister continues to say that there is no shortage and blames somebody else for the fact that oil cannot be got. Will the Minister of State let us have a plain statement of the situation if she can? If not, will she ask the Minister to go on television and make a statement setting out the exact position? Do not let us continue in the present situation where we do not know whether or not we are being conned by the petrol stations, the petrol companies, the Minister or the Government. The Minister is reported in the Evening Press on 22 March 1979 as saying that there will be no petrol rationing, that there was no need for petrol rationing, that there is plenty to go around.
I asked for this question to be raised because I found it difficult to get petrol. In a town near where I live two petrol stations have been closed for the last fortnight because they cannot get a supply of petrol. Somebody is telling lies, and the only way to find out who is for those who are directly responsible to the House to make a statement which can be understood by everybody. I would be glad for the information I am seeking.
