HC Deb 28 March 1928 vol 215 cc1161-3
29. Mr. DAY

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give the

Mr. BETTERTON

The hon. Gentleman will find that the statement in tabular form is very exhaustive. I take it he regards the question as a serious and important one; therefore, I have done my best to give him the information he desires.

Sir COOPER RAWSON

Can the hon. Gentleman state the decrease in unemployment since the Government took office?

Following is the table:

House particulars of the flight made by Royal Air Force biplanes between Cairo and the Cape; and whether any forced landings have had to be made en route?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Philip Sassoons)

This flight is being carried out as a routine exercise of the same nature as the corresponding flights undertaken in 1926 and 1927. Four Fairey III.F aircraft with Napier Lion engines left Cairo on 1st March. One machine was damaged when taking off at N'dola in Northern Rhodesia on 16th March; the personnel sustained no injuries. The remaining three aircraft proceeded on the flight and reached Cape Town without forced landings en route on 25th March. The flight is due to leave Cape Town on 31st March, and will be joined at Pretoria by a detachment of the South African Air Force, which will accompany them as far as Khartoum. The combined flights will carry out co-operational exercises with the local forces at Tabora and Nairobi. The Royal Air Force flight is expected to return to Cairo on 3rd May.

Mr. DAY

Can the hon. Baronet say the reason for the forced landing of one of the machines?

Sir P. SASSOON

No. I have not had any details.