§ 58. Mr. Garro Jonesasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air, how many parachutes were purchased for the Royal Air Force in 1926 and in 1936; of what makes; whether they were purchased after tender; and at what price?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Lieut.-Colonel Muirhead)As regards the first part of the Question, I am advised that it would not be in the public interest to give this information. As regards the second part, the purchases in 1926 were of the supplies-dropping type and of the man-carrying type, contracts being placed with P. B. Cow & Co., C. G. Spencer & Sons, E. R. Calthrop's Aerial Patents and Irving Airchute of Great Britain, Ltd. In 1936, the purchases were of the flare reconnaissance type and the man-carrying type, contracts being placed with G. Q. 1784 Parachute Co., Spencer Bros. and the Irving Airchute Co. As regards the third part, the purchases were made after competitive tender, except in the case of the man-carrying parachutes which were of a proprietary type. As regards the last part, it would be contrary to established practice to disclose contract prices.