asked the Minister of Fuel and Power what amount of petrol was granted for hospital car service throughout the country for the first quarter of 1949 compared with the first quarter of 1948.

The amount of petrol granted to the hospital car service throughout the United Kingdom during the first quarter of 1949 was 225,026 gallons as compared with 76,491 gallons for the corresponding period of 1948.

asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the inadequacy of the existing petrol allowance to many domiciliary midwives, he will issue instructions to all regional petroleum officers that special consideration should be given to all such applications for petrol.

Regional petroleum officers have standing instructions to meet in full the reasonable requirements of all certified midwives. If the hon. Member knows of any midwife who is not able to obtain enough petrol for her work, I shall be glad to look into the case.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not only look into individual cases, but into the general policy? Is he aware that even those midwives who are lucky enough to have cars are seriously handicapped in their work by the inadequacy of the petrol allowance which they are granted?

No, there is no evidence whatever to that effect, but, as I say, if the hon. Member has an individual case in mind, I will certainly look into it.