HC Deb 16 March 1938 vol 333 cc423-4W
Mr. Perkins

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will state the total amount of money that was paid to Imperial Airways, Limited, during the Government financial years 1935, 1936, and 1937, and the estimated amount for 1938?

Sir W. Womersley

The amounts paid to Imperial Airways in respect of the carriage of mails for the years ended 31st March, 1936 and 1937, were £580,000 and £685,000, respectively; the estimated amount for the year ending 31st March, 1938, is £740,000. I regret I am not in a position to say what payments are likely to be made to the company for the year ending 31st March, 1939.

Sir R. Glyn

asked the Postmaster-General what is the total cost of payments made for postal services to the British mercantile marine, to foreign railway companies and Governments, and to Imperial Airways, respectively?

Major Tryon

The total payments made by the Post Office in the calendar year 1937 for the services mentioned were approximately as follow:

£ £
British Mercantile Marine 680,000
Imperial Postal Administrations 475,000
Foreign Postal Administrations 740,000
1,215,000
Imperial Airways 735,000

No direct payments were made to foreign railway companies other than the National Society of Belgian Railways which operates the parcel post services in Belgium. The payment to the Belgian Railways under this head (about £16,000 a year) is included in the figure of £740,000.