§ 35. Mr. WELLSasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air when he expects to receive the report of the court of inquiry dealing with the disaster to the airship It 101; and whether he proposes to make the report public as soon as it is available?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Mr. Montague)The report will certainly be published without delay as soon as it is available. For the reasons given in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Hertford (Rear-Admiral Sueter) on the 22nd January, I cannot yet give a definite date for its publication.
§ Captain HAROLD BALFOURCan the hon. Gentleman say whether the House will have an opportunity of discussing the report and the findings?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEApart from any other occasion, an opportunity will present itself on the Estimates.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYAre we to understand that the hon. Member has the report?
§ Mr. MONTAGUENo, Sir.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREHas the report not been submitted to His Majesty's Government?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEThe report is not in the hands of His Majesty's Government.
§ Captain BALFOURWill it be out before the Estimates are discussed?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEI cannot answer that question definitely, but I should imagine that it will be ready in a very short time.
§ Captain Sir WILLIAM BRASSCan the hon. Gentleman say how long it is since the last evidence was given?
§ Mr. MONTAGUENo, I cannot say that, but the reason for the time that has elapsed is the nature of the experiments which have had to be undertaken at the National Physical Laboratory. They have been very difficult experiments.