asked the Secretary for Mines how many evacuated civil servants are allowed special petrol coupons because they live far away from their work in towns where the new offices are situated; and whether he is sure that the extra consumption of petrol is unavoidable?

The reply to the first part of the hon. Member's Question could only be supplied by a detailed examination of all the cases dealt with in the divisional petroleum offices, which I consider would entail an unjustifiable amount of labour and expense. Evacuated civil servants like other members of the community are only able to receive supplementary allowances for the purpose of getting to their place of business when no alternative means of transport exist. I am satisfied that the same degree of scrutiny is applied in the case of their applications as in those of other persons.