§ 59. Mr. LEWISasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether any negotiations have taken place between the Air Ministry and any company other than British Airways as to the payment of a subsidy for a service between this country and Scandinavia, in the event of the Air Navigation Bill now before this House being passed into law?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Philip Sassoon)The answer is in the negative.
§ 60. Mr. LEWISasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether any negotiations have taken place between the Air Ministry and British Airways as to the payment of a subsidy for a service between this country and Scandinavia in the event of the Air Navigation Bill now before this House being passed into law?
§ Sir P. SASSOONThe arrangements contemplated come within the period and powers of the Air Transport (Subsidy Agreements) Act, 1930.
§ 61. Mr. LEWISasked the Postmaster-General whether any tenders have been invited by public advertisement, or otherwise, for the carriage of air mails to Scandinavia?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Sir Walter Womersley)No tenders were invited for the carriage of these mails, which are carried under arrangements jointly concluded with the Air Ministry for the provision of a British air service to Scandinavia, after full consideration by the Inter-Departmental Committee on International Air Communications.
§ Mr. LEWISCan the hon. Gentleman say why the contract was given to one company without first ascertaining what other companies could do?
§ Sir W. WOMERSLEYI think my hon. Friend will see information on that point in the answer given to the previous question put to the Under-Secretary of State for Air. I can inform him that the contract had to be given to an air mail service which could guarantee prompt and regular deliveries, and that this was the only firm at the moment which could give that guarantee.
§ Sir W. WOMERSLEYNo, Sir, I can not give that information.