HC Deb 04 May 1931 vol 252 cc5-6
4. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the now Indian air service which is contemplated is to be an all-Indian service; and what is its proposed strength?

Mr. BENN

I presume that my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the Indian State Air Service. I have no information as to the numbers of pilots and mechanics to be recruited for this service, but I understand that the present intention is that the personnel shall include Europeans as well as Indians.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Did not the right hon. Gentleman speak of the Royal Air Force as being Indian?

Mr. BENN

I understood when the hon. and gallant Gentleman spoke of an Indian air service he referred to the commercial service.

Sir SAMUEL HOARE

Will the types of machine to be used by the Indian Government be such as to make it easy to transfer from Imperial Airways machines to Indian machines?

Mr. BENN

If the right hon. Gentleman will give me specific notice, I will give him the necessary information. It does not arise directly out of the question.

Mr. REMER

Do the figures show the boycott is operating against foreign cloth as well as against British cloth?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member can form his own conclusions.

Following is the statement: