§ Mr. VIANTasked the Secretary of State for Air if the instalments in respect of subsidy to Imperial Airways are paid in arrear or in advance; and for what periods and in what sums have they been paid for the European and Eastern routes in arrear or in advance?
§ Sir S. HOAREAs regards the European services, the subsidy of (at present) £137,000 per annum is paid monthly in arrear, and the amount so far paid has been £498,680, made up of three amounts of £137,000 each in respect of the three years ending 31st March, 1927, and 429W £87,680 in respect of the current financial year to date. As regards the Eastern services, the possible maximum subsidy of £93,600 per annum is payable up to a total of £85,000 by instalments in advance, the balance of £8,600, so far as it is earned, being payable in arrear. The instalments so far paid have been; £30,000 in December, 1926; £30,000 in June, 1927; and £25,000 in September, 1927.