§ 35. Captain Viscount CURZONasked the Prime Minister whether the Government have as yet come to any decision upon the Burney airship scheme?
37. Mr. MALONEasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government have yet arrived at a decision in regard to the Burney airship scheme; whether it has yet been approved; and whether they have taken into consideration the relative cost, efficiency, and advantages of granting assistance on the same lines to similar schemes employing aeroplanes instead of airships?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs a result of several meetings of the Committee of Imperial Defence, it was decided that in 1706 view of the need for economy no money should be expended in developing an airship service, either for commercial purposes or with the object of establishing Imperial communications. A special subcommittee is being appointed, with my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty as Chairman, to study in detail the technical aspects of Commander Burney's scheme with a view to ascertaining if Commander Burney's claims were well founded and if his scheme was likely to produce airships which would be of national value in time of war. Full consideration is being given to the possibility of the employment of aeroplanes in connection with Imperial air communications.
§ Viscount CURZONWill the Report of this Committee be published, and is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the great delay that has already taken place in referring the matter from one Committee to another? I hope this does not mean that there will be any further delay.
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is doubtful whether it is desirable to publish the Report of a private Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence.
§ Viscount CURZONCould a general outline of the Report be published?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI will consider that.