HC Deb 26 July 1923 vol 167 cc700-1
47. Captain W. BENN

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now make a statement as to the Imperial Airship Scheme; and can he state by which Department the scheme will be controlled?

64. Mr. WELLS

asked the Secretary of State for Air, in view of the unemployment in Bedford, if he is in a position to make an announcement with regard to the negotiations respecting the proposed Imperial Airship Company, which company, it is anticipated, is to take over Cardington Aerodrome?

The SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Lieut.-Colonel Sir Samuel Hoare)

I have been asked to reply. The question of the development of airships has recently been considered by the Committee of Imperial Defence and the Imperial Shipping Committee. The Committee of Imperial Defence attaches considerable strategic value to airships, whilst the Imperial Shipping Committee considers that it is by means of an airship service that the carriage of mails can most cheaply be expedited to the Far East and Australia. The Government have, therefore, decided to resume the development of airships and to proceed, if possible, by means of a commercial service rather than by State operation.

Proposals have been placed before them by the hon. and gallant Member for Uxbridge (Lieut.-Commander Burney) under which a bi-weekly service of six large airships to India will eventually be set up. The Government have accepted the scheme in principle, subject to the details of the contract being satisfactorily settled by the Treasury. The House of Commons will have an opportunity of considering the scheme when the details have been provisionally agreed.

The Dominions are being informed of this decision, and it is hoped to discuss the question at the Imperial Conference with a view to their co-operation in the scheme.

The administration of the scheme in so far as it is a matter of commercial aviation will come under the Air Ministry.

Mr. WELLS

Is the matter likely to be settled before the winter?

Sir S. HOARE

I am afraid that a matter of this kind must take some time. We are very anxious to press it through as quickly as we can. My hon. Friend's particular anxiety in the scheme, as shown in Question 64, is being kept in mind.

Viscount CURZON

Will the airships included in this scheme revert to the Forces in time of war?

Sir S. HOARE

That point will certainly be kept in mind.