HC Deb 25 February 1931 vol 248 cc2113-4
37. Mr. WELLS

asked 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 R 101?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Mr. Montague)

I understand that most of the report is written and in print, but I am unable to give a definite date on which the court will have completed it since, as I informed the hon. Member on the 4th instant, the court has asked for certain experiments to be carried out at the National Physical Laboratory, with a view to fixing more definitely the cause of the accident, and these experiments are not yet completed. Results of great value are to be expected from these experiments, and no time is being lost in carrying them out, but the court feels that it would be unwise to present its report until the results are available, or to curtail the experiments for the sake of a slightly earlier publication of the report. With this view my Noble Friend entirely concurs.

Mr. WELLS

Can the Under-Secretary of State say whether the report will be issued before the Air Estimates come forward?

Mr. HAYCOCK

Will the hon. Gentleman whisper a little louder?

Mr. MONTAGUE

I am hoping so, but I cannot say definitely.