HC Deb 20 March 1917 vol 91 c1745W
Mr. BILLING

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what has been the cost to the nation for the creation, expansion, and establishment of the Royal Naval Air Service since 4th August, 1914?

Dr. MACNAMARA

Even if the clerical work involved in computing the cost were commensurate with the advantages to be gained from it, the Admiralty cannot undertake in the middle of war to give information of this kind about a fighting service.