§ 17. Wing-Commander Hulbertasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can give the total cost to the last convenient date of supplying food and fuel to Berlin by British aircraft; and how many tons of petrol have been used for this purpose.
§ Mr. MayhewThe extra cost to the Exchequer up to 31st August of supplying food and fuel to Berlin by British aircraft was approximately £1,000,000. The operations have involved additional petrol consumption up to 16th September of about 9,000 tons.
§ Wing-Commander HulbertCan the Under-Secretary say whether the whole of this amount will be charged to the United Kingdom or whether it will be split between the Western Powers?
§ Mr. MayhewI should need notice of that Question.
§ 18. Wing-Commander Hulbertasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many civil aircraft are now employed in the Berlin airlift; and on what terms they have been chartered.
§ Mr. MayhewThe number of civil aircraft under charter for the Berlin airlift on 17th September, 1948, was 23. It is contrary to established practice to divulge the terms of Government contracts or charter parties.
§ Wing-Commander HulbertCan the Under-Secretary say if all these contracts were negotiated on an ordinary commercial basis?
§ Mr. MayhewI should need notice of that Question.