§ Mr. HALESasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that 384W the Graf Zeppelin and the new German airship now under construction at Frederickshafen will shortly inaugurate a regular trans-Atlantic service; and, having regard to the growing importance of aerial travel, will he reconsider his decision as to the construction of air-ships?
§ Sir P. SASSOONIt seems unlikely that the new German airship will be ready for trial before the late spring of 1935. Until she has started regular operation, my Noble Friend thinks it would be premature to consider departing from the policy decided on as a result of the May Committee's Report in September, 1931. Under this policy the Air Ministry maintains a nucleus staff which keeps in the closest touch with airship development in other countries, and carries out certain experiments, but no production work is undertaken.