38. Captain BALFOURasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many fare-paying passengers landed at Karachi from aircraft of Imperial Airways, Limited, journeying from England 842 to India; and if he will state the cost per passenger to the British taxpayer through the operation of the existing subsidy arrangements?
§ Sir P. SASSOONI understand that the number of fare-paying passengers travelling from London to India in the aircraft of Imperial Airways is at present approximately 75 per annum. It is not practicable to state the cost per passenger to the British taxpayer; the subsidy is paid in respect of a service which carries passengers, mails and freight, and no allocation can be made between the different categories.
Captain BALFOURCould my right hon. Friend say if a subsidy at the rate of £1,800 per ton costs the taxpayer two and a half times the fare that a passenger pays?
§ Sir P. SASSOONNo. If I was in a position to give the actual figure, I am certain that the figure which my hon. and gallant Friend has just quoted would not be the correct one.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWill the right hon. Gentleman tell us if it is not the case that we have air machines weighing 13 tons used as bombers, with engines six tons in weight, that are capable of doing all the damage—