§ 38. Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMS (for Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLE)asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the cost of repairing R100 after her recent flight; what was the exact nature of the damage sustained; what are the plans for her Canadian visit; what is the annual upkeep of an airship; and how much of the total cost is written off annually for depreciation?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEThe answer to the first part of the question is, exclusive of overhead charges, £675, of which £490 has been spent or incurred to date. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 28th May. As regards the third part, the repairs are due for completion by the end of this month, but, at the request of the Canadian authorities, the flight to Canada is being postponed until after the close of the Canadian elections on 28th July. The airship will probably stay some 14 days in Canada; the question of flights from Montreal will be settled between the Canadian authorities and the Director of Airship Development after her arrival. With regard to 1150 the two last parts of the question, one of the objects of the present scheme of development is to obtain information as to the normal cost of maintenance and length of life of airships of this type; it is, however, less than nine months since R100 and R101 started their trials and further experience will be necessary before any reliable figures can be given.