§ MR. ASHLEYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that the expenditure on balloon work in 1903–4 was £14,600, and the estimated expenditure for 1908–9 for both balloon and airship construction is only £13,750, he will state what steps he proposes to take to place this country in a position of equality with France and Germany, who are spending large sums of money on aeronautical work.
§ MR. HALDANESufficient funds have been provided this year for such experimental work as is considered necessary. The amounts which are expended on experimental aeronautical work at the present time by Germany and France cannot be accepted as a standard of what is desirable for this country to spend.