§ 25 and 26. Rear-Admiral BEAMISHasked the Secretary of State for Air (1) if there is more than one mooring-mast in England suitable for the R. 100 and R. 101; and is it contemplated, or possible, that both vessels can use one mast simultaneously;
(2) if it is proposed to handle the R. 100 for trials at Howden without any 372 mooring-mast at that station; and does he, propose to erect a mooring-mast at that place, and, if not, will the mooring-mast at Cardington be available for R. 100 directly the ship is ready for trials?
§ Sir P. SASSOONThere is only one mooring-mast in England suitable for the R. 100 and R. 101, namely, that at Cardington, and it is not proposed to erect a second at Howden. The Cardington mast can be used by both airships, but not simultaneously; it is not contemplated that they will be in the air for their trial flights at the same time or that difficulty will in practice arise in regard to the availability of the mast for either airship when ready.
§ Rear-Admiral BEAMISHCan the hon. Baronet give us some idea as to the date of completion of the Howden airship and the Cardington airship, in view of the possibility of simultaneous trials?
§ Sir P. SASSOONI could not say definitely, but we hope to have both flying next year.
§ Mr. WELLSDoes not the hon. Baronet think it essential that there should be more than one mooring mast in this country in case of bad weather?
§ Sir W. DAVISONWhat has happened to the mast at Pulham, in Norfolk? Is that not suitable?
§ Sir P. SASSOONThere is only one mast at Cardington suitable for these airships. For the trials, I think, the one mast is sufficient.
Sir F. HALLSupposing it is necessary to have both in the air simultaneously, what protection will there be for the two airships if they should require separate masts?
§ Mr. THURTLEOn a point of Order. Is not that a hypothetical question?
§ Rear-Admiral BEAMISHIs it not necessary to ballast these large airships, when they are secured to mooring masts, before they can be replaced in their sheds; and, if that be so, and if these two ships are to do trials simultaneously, how are they to get back to their sheds unless they are ballasted at the mooring masts?
§ Sir P. SASSOONWe will not have them in the air simultaneously.
§ 27. Mr. WELLSasked the Secretary of State for Air what amount of the sums of £31,650, £36,000 and £39,750 spent upon salaries of officials, designers and draughtsmen at Cardington in the years 1925, 1926 and 1927, respectively, are included in the sum of £260,000 stated to have been expended upon experimental work in connection with the proposed airship R. 101?
§ Sir P. SASSOONI regret that as the hon. Member's question first appeared on the Order Paper yesterday, and to supply the figures required entails some, investigation, I am not yet in a position to give a reply. I will communicate the figures to him as soon as they are available.
§ 28. Mr. WELLSasked the Secretary of State for Air what amount of the sums of £31,650, £36,000 and £39,750 spent upon salaries of officials, designers and draughtsmen at Cardington, in the years 1925, 1926 and 1927, respectively, have to be added to the estimated sum of £280,000 for wages and materials in connection with the construction of R. 101 to include the necessary design and overhead charges?
§ Sir P. SASSOONOf the amounts quoted by the hon. Member, sums of £7,630, £13,540 and £20,000, respectively, may be taken as chargeable against R. 101 in respect of design, and £2,710, £6,010 and £14,120, respectively, in respect of overheads.