26. Viscount SAN DONasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has entered into any arrangement or understanding with the American promoters of the scheme to lay down permanently anchored islands for the use of aircraft at regular intervals across the Atlantic, the first of which is to be started immediately; what are the terms and conditions of their use by British aircraft; whether he will first of all take engineering advice as to the safety of this device; and whether it is to be armed for defence?
§ Sir P. SASSOONI am aware that the scheme referred to by my Noble Friend has been proposed in America, and any development of it will be closely watched by the Air Ministry, but no question 372 has arisen of entering into any arrangement or understanding with its promoters. The answer to the first part of the question is, therefore, in the negative, and the remaining parts do not arise.