asked the Minister for Energy if he will make a statement giving as much information as possible on the position of foreign car-owning tourists coming to Great Britain for a holiday, in the event of petrol rationing.

Arrangements are being made for the AA and RAC to issue motor fuel coupons to overseas visitors to the United Kingdom if rationing were introduced. Coupons would be issued both at ports of entry and at inland offices of the two organisations. The size of the ration would depend on the oil supply situation at the time.I am asking the RAC, the AA and the British Tourist Authority to do as much as possible to see that appropriate publicity is given to these arrangements overseas for intending visitors to Britain in the event that rationing is introduced.

asked the Minister for Energy how many extra staff have been taken on to carry out work related to petrol rationing; and what is the area distribution of this extra recruitment.

1,264 extra temporary staff have been taken on by the regional petroleum offices as follows: