§ 52. Captain HAROLD BALFOURasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the total amount received by his Department on account of charges to Imperial Airways, Limited, for housing of aircraft and office staffs, landing fees on Government landing grounds and terminal airports, wireless and meteoro- 1396 logical services, and the cost to his Department for the supply of these services, and the basis on which such charges are made; and if the Air Ministry are willing to supply similar services on the same terms to any unsubsidised air line which may contemplate starting in competition with Imperial Airways?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Mr. Montague)As the answer is long, I will, with the hon. and gallant Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ At Croydon the Air Ministry receive £7,461 per annum from Imperial Airways, Limited, in respect of the housing of aircraft, the hire of office and other accommodation and the use of the aerodrome. The charges at Lympne aerodrome and at Penshurst landing ground are levied at the ordinary tariff rate for each housing or landing and vary in accordance with user; for 1928 they amounted to £282 10s. in all. The charges in respect of accommodation represent the economic rental based on the capital cost of the buildings with interest on capital, maintenance and amortization. The charges in respect of the use of the aerodromes, which include wireless and meteorological facilities, are the ordinary tariff rates available to all users but at Croydon these are commuted for a fixed annual payment; it would be impossible to segregate from the total cost to the Air Ministry the amount which the user of the aerodromes by Imperial Airways represents. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.