HC Deb 25 March 1936 vol 310 cc1211-2
20. Captain DOWER

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air in view of the coroner's findings in the "City of Khartoum" air disaster, what steps, if any, he proposes to take to see that Imperial Airways provides sufficient margin of petrol to meet possible eventualities?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Philip Sassoon)

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Perkins) on the 11th instant.

Captain DOWER

Did not the findings state quite clearly that there was no petrol in the machine at the time and that the margin of fuel allowed was insufficient and will my right hon. Friend take all possible precautions to see that the safeguards he has suggested shall be introduced in order to prevent any disaster of this kind in the future?

Sir P. SASSOON

As I have said extra tankage capacity is to be given to air liners of this type at present operating in the Mediterranean which is expected to give them a sufficient margin of safety.