§ 19. Captain Peter Macdonaldasked the Secretary of State for Air what steps have been taken by his Department to provide aircraft for British West Indies Airways.
§ The Secretary of State for Air (Sir Archibald Sinclair)With the approval of the Combined Munitions Assignment Board in Washington, three Hudson aircraft have been made available for sale to this company.
§ Captain MacdonaldWhen will these aircraft be delivered? There is great delay in delivering aircraft to this company, which is almost out of action as a result of the delays in my right hon. Friend's Department, and this Munitions Assignment Board, whatever it is, has not been functioning, so far as this company is concerned.
§ Sir A. SinclairMy hon. and gallant Friend is mistaken in supposing that the delays have occurred in my Department. Some time ago we offered another type of aircraft, which in fact the company had originally asked us for, but, no doubt for perfectly good reasons, they changed their mind. The first aircraft will, I think, be ready in a few days, and the others in a very few weeks.