§ 44. Mr. Garro Jonesasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many bombing aircraft now in service have a total range out and home of 1,200 miles or more in calm air?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadIt would not be in the public interest to give the information asked for by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Garro JonesIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the range of every new type of bombing aircraft and the nominal load have been published by the "Times" air correspondent and by the journal called the "Aeroplane," and, in these circumstances, why cannot the range of each type of machine at least be given to the House of Commons?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadMy Department cannot be expected to take their lead from Press organs.
§ Mr. Garro JonesIf the information has already leaked out with all the weight of authority of these two newspapers, why should the Minister withhold authentic information from the House of Commons? What damage could be done?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadAll I can say is that any information as to numbers which has appeared in this or any other newspaper has no official authority whatever.