§ 64. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will state what subsidy he would be prepared to offer to Imperial Airways, Limited, for operating an air-mail service between the North-east coast of England and the Continent?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Mr. Montague)It would be for Imperial Airways to lay before the Air Ministry detailed proposals for such an air service and to state what additional subsidy, if any, they would require for its operation. Pending the receipt and careful examination of such proposals my Noble Friend is not in a position to state what, if any, subsidy would be given.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDoes my hon. Friend anticipate receiving a proposal from Imperial Airways?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEI do not know that I anticipate it, but questions of this kind are always under consideration.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the hon. Gentleman aware that, unless it is received, the whole scheme is held up, and only Imperial Airways, according to his policy, can do anything?
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a first-class station at Cramlington, and will he not consult his advisers as to whether the answer to the hon. and gallant Gentleman's question is not that such stations should be encouraged in every way possible?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEThe whole matter is covered by an agreement of April, 1929, and we cannot go beyond that.