§ 5. Mr. William Shepherdasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation what is the cost of the maintenance depot at Montreal; whether these costs are borne in dollars, and how long it is expected that they will continue.
§ Mr. LindgrenThe answer to the first part of the Question is £125,000 per quarter; to the second part, Canadian dollars; to the third part, autumn, 1948.
§ Mr. ShepherdWould the Minister say why this enormous sum of dollars has been wasted every quarter, in view of the fact that aircraft have to travel from New York to Montreal, a return distance of 500 miles, without any pay-load at all; and, in view of the fact that 2,000 bombers were serviced in this country during the war, why could not steps be taken for those facilities to be utilised for this purpose before this time?
§ Mr. LindgrenThere was no appropriate place at that time in this country and there still is no available place at the present time; one, however, is being made available, in conjunction with the relevant authorities.
§ Colonel J. R. H. HutchisonDoes the Minister realise that the self-same aircraft were serviced at Prestwick during the war?
§ Mr. LindgrenNo, Sir. All they were given was normal flight maintenance, not servicing.