§ 57. Captain HAROLD BALFOURasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if the Air Ministry charge a reproduction fee in respect of all photographs published of airship R101; if so, what 995 is the amount of revenue so derived to date from this charge; and whether this practice is customary in respect of all photographs portraying Government aircraft?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEThe answer to the first and last parts of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part that the amount received up to 31st December, 1929, in respect of reproduction fees, was £67.
§ 58. Major SALMONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the amount of the Estimate originally submitted to the House for the construction of R101; what is its actual cost; and what was the actual total cost of R100?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEAs regards the first two parts of the question, the original estimate was a composite one for the whole airship programme, of 1924, but the sum provided for the construction of R101 may be put at approximately £300,000. Owing to the novel and experimental character of the design, the time taken in construction proved materially longer than had originally been estimated, and in consequence, this figure had subsequently to be increased; and in the Air Estimates for 1929 a figure of £527,000 was given for this purpose. The figure of actual cost cannot yet be stated. As regards the last part of the question, I have no official information, but it has been publicly stated that the cost of constructing R100 largely exceeded the contract price of £350,000.
§ Major SALMONDoes the hon. Gentleman think that it is to the interest of the State that airships—
§ Mr. SPEAKERMr. Lees.