§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Secretary of State for War how many aeroplanes have been ordered of the eighteen for which tenders had been invited on the 19th December; and why orders for further aeroplanes have been so much delayed?
§ Colonel SEELYTenders have been received, the last on 1st January, and are under consideration.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that over 400 aeroplanes were bought by the French Army during the past year in addition to the 218 possessed by the French Army at the end of 1911; how many aeroplanes the Royal Flying Corps possesses belonging to the Military Wing, and how many at the Central Flying School; how many of these are actually in flying order; and how many of them are capable of exceeding a speed of sixty-five miles per hour in calm air—i.e., without the assistance of wind?
§ Colonel SEELYThere is no information at the War Office to show the number of aeroplanes bought by the French Army during the past year. The Royal Flying Corps, Military Wing, possesses twenty-nine aeroplanes and the Central Flying School twenty-six; of these twenty-six and nineteen, respectively, are in flying order. With regard to the last part of the question I do not think it is desirable to make public the qualities in speed or otherwise of our aeroplanes for use in war.