HC Deb 12 July 1922 vol 156 cc1211-2
30 and 31. Mr. MALONE

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) whether the Civil Aviation Advisory Committee has yet considered the question of a London to India service with heavier-than-air craft; when this Report will be published; whether he will take steps to see that this Report is available to Members of this House before the Burney airship scheme to India is approved or submitted to this House;

(2) whether his Department has considered the Burney airship scheme; what recommendations have they made thereon; whether the Air Ministry is aware that a London to India service with aeroplanes could be put into operation with more certainty, in a shorter time, with less capital expenditure, and smaller Government guarantees; whether any air transport firms have submitted projects of this nature; and whether he can give an assurance that schemes of this nature operating with heavier-than-air craft will receive as favourable consideration as the Burney airship scheme?

The SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Captain Guest)

With regard to the first question, the question of the practicability of an Imperial Mail Service to India, operated by heavier-than-air craft, has been, and still is, under consideration by the Civil Aviation Advisory Board, and I am expecting to receive their report at an early date. I intend to publish the report as a White Paper, and I hope to be able to issue it before the House rises. As regards the second question, the Burney Airship Scheme has received the full consideration of the Air Ministry. As I stated in my reply to the hon. Member on the 18th May, the Ministry considered that from a technical point of. view the scheme was a notable advance on previous proposals of this kind, and that it offered a reasonable prospect of satisfactory operation between India and this country. Commander Burney's proposals were then referred to the Committee of Imperial Defence for consideration. As the Committee have not yet given their decision, I do not think it would be proper for me to make any further statement on the matter at present. In answer to the third part of the question, I would prefer to await the publication of the Report of the Civil Aviation Advisory Board before attempting to compare the relative advantages of these two aerial transport schemes. The answer to the fourth part of the question is in the negative; to the fifth, in the affirmative.