§ 43. Captain HAROLD BALFOUR (for Sir SAMUEL HOARE)asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether his decision as to the loan of high-speed aircraft for the Schneider trophy applies to the machines already in existence and used on the occasion of the last contest in September, 1929, or whether it means merely that the Air Ministry is not prepared to pay for the construction of further high-speed aircraft with a view to their subsequent loan?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEMy statement on Air Estimates was intended to apply to the proposal that the Air Ministry should undertake the construction and loan of new machines, expenditure on which is not considered justifiable in present circumstances. When the current programme of experimental high-speed flying is completed, however, my Noble Friend will be prepared to consider sympathetically any proposals which may be put forward for lending the machines which are already in existence, provided the cost of any necessary modifications to them is borne by private enterprise, in accordance with the declared policy of His Majesty's Government.
§ Captain BALFOURMay I ask whether the insurance would have to be borne by any private firm?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEI should imagine that would be the case.