§ Mr. GARDNERasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any contract has yet been made by the Government for the operation of a subsidised 1954W air service from Karachi to Delhi; and whether the subsidy to the company operating this route will constitute the total subsidy by the Government of India to civil aviation in India?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe Government of India have called for tenders for the operation of a subsidised air service from Karachi with an eventual extension to Calcutta. My Noble Friend has not yet heard officially that a tender has been accepted, but reports to that effect have appeared in the Press. The subsidy to the company operating this, route will for the time being be the only subsidy paid to an aviation company by the Government of India; but they have also assisted the development of civil aviation, by grants to aeroplane clubs, by a scholarship scheme for the training of selected Indians in civil aviation, by substantial contributions to the cost of the Imperial airship scheme, and by the grant of free facilities for five years to Imperial Airways at the Karachi civil aerodrome, in connection with the operation of the London-Karachi air service.