31. Mr. ROBINSONasked the Secretary of State for Air the dates on which the respective aeroplanes that have crashed this year and resulted in the loss of life of 27 members of the Royal Air Force were purchased; and whether he has any reason to believe that part of this sacrifice is due to the use of old and faulty machines?
§ Sir P. SASSOONThe average life of the aeroplane in question since the date of purchase or of reconditioning, which is equivalent to complete rebuilding of the aircraft, is one year and seven months. The oldest of these aeroplanes was less than four years old. Only two out of 18 were of war time design. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.