§ 1. Sir H. BRITTAINasked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of passenger-carrying aeroplanes trading between the Continent and Great Britain are fitted with wireless; and whether, for the greater safety of travellers, he is prepared to consider enforcing regulations in this regard with respect to every plane which carries passengers to and from this country?
The SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Captain Guest)This question should have been addressed to me. An agreement, which is being drawn up with the British aircraft companies operating on the recognised air routes between England and abroad under the Subsidy Scheme, will include a Clause providing that all approved fleets of aircraft shall be equipped with wireless. The agreement containing this Clause has not yet been signed, but at present all the large aircraft, 15 in number, trading regularly between London and Paris and London 780 and Brussels are fitted with wireless and communicate regularly with the Air Ministry ground stations. Two small aircraft, with accommodation for only two passengers each, are not fitted. As regards foreign machines on the London-Continental route, one French machine is at present fitted with wireless, and the French companies have agreed that all their large passenger-carrying aircraft on this service shall be similarly equipped by the middle of August. The Dutch are also arranging to equip with wireless their aircraft on the Holland-England route.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINMay we take it that, before the end of the year, all machines, British or foreign, travelling between this country and other countries will be equipped with wireless?