§ 11. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what will be the total cost of the six rigid 1784 airships of an improved type now under construction for the Navy; whether the signature of Peace will enable the building of some or all of these expensive airships to be postponed; and, if not, why is there no difference between the War and Peace airship programmes?
§ Mr. LONGThe estimated total cost of the six rigid airships is £2,200,000. The rigid airship programme was thoroughly revised shortly after the Armistice was signed, and was reduced as far as is consistent with the Peace requirements of the Navy, and with the necessary development of the Airship service. No further reduction is at present contemplated. It should be noted that the six airships are not, as implied in the question, of a single type, but of several types, representing successive stages of development.
§ Captain WEDGWOOD BENNIs it proposed to hand over the construction of the lighter-than-air-craft to the Air Ministry; and, if so, when?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it not to be taken into consideration, in the interests of scientific experiment, at any rate, to postpone this building and the expenditure of this money until a later date, and until we have bad more experience of this kind of vessel?
§ Mr. LONGThose questions have already been taken into consideration by the Board of Admiralty in arriving at their decision.