§ 72. Mr. WISEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will furnish comparative figures showing the amount of the subsidies paid in respect of commercial aviation, or the carrying of air mails, by the following nations; the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, France, and Italy?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEThe subsidies voted in this country, Germany, France and Italy in respect of the financial year beginning at different dates in 1929, were respectively £354,000, 10,550,000 reich marks (excluding financial assistance from local authorities), 172,300,000 francs and 56,500,000 lire. No comparable figure can be quoted for the United States of America, since financial assistance for this purpose is there given in the shape not of direct subsidies but of mail contracts placed at higher rates than those recoverable from the public through air mail surcharges; the amount thus voted for payments to air mail contractors for the year beginning 1st July, 1929, was $17,600,000.
§ Mr. WISEWith regard to the German figures, could the hon. Member get the figures for the subsidies from the local authorities which I think are by far the biggest factor?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEI agree that they are by far the biggest factor, but there is some difficulty in getting them; if possible, I will get them for my hon. Friend.