§ 67. Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Secretary of State for Air whether the Australian and New Zealand Governments have been approached, and, if so, with what results, with regard to the linking up of these two Dominions and Great Britain by means of an air service?
§ Sir P. SASSOONIn accordance with the recommendations of the Air Communications Committee of the Imperial Economic Conference, 1923, the Dominion Governments have been informed of the position of the airship scheme and, in general, of all developments affecting civil aviation. The question of approaching the Australian and New Zealand Governments in regard to the linking up of those countries and Great Britain by an air service will be taken up when the experimental stage of the airship programme is further advanced.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSAre we to understand that, when the various Empire Governments have made these communications possible, we are then going to hand them over to private enterprise and thereby create a vested interest in what should obviously be a national concern?
§ Sir P. SASSOONNo, I do not think the hon. Member is entitled to draw that conclusion.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINNeed we wait for all these experiments to be made before approaching these two Dominions?
§ Sir P. SASSOONAs I explained in my answer, we have already informed 1722 the Dominions of what we are doing, and I do not think anything further can usefully be done in the matter until the experimental stages are further advanced.
§ Captain GEEAs a result of this correspondence, might I ask if the Dominions have informed us how it is that their fatal accidents are so much fewer than they are in this country?