§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a French Parliamentary Committee has been appointed to report upon aviation from a military standpoint; and whether, having regard to the importance of an adequate organisation to this country, he will appoint a Select or Departmental Committee on the subject?
§ Colonel SEELYIn France there is a Special Commission for the study of military aviation and the Budget Commission has a sub-committee for the study of æronautics. As regards the second part of the question, these matters are dealt with by a special sub-committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence and by Lord Rayleigh's Advisory Committee on Aeronautics.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in consequence of the Report on aeroplane accidents by the Committee appointed by him, he is permitting the renewed use of monoplanes to the Royal Flying Corps; and whether he intends to use both kinds of machines in the future?
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Secretary of State for War whether any of the Flanders. Deperdussin, and Martin-Hendasyde monoplanes delivered during the past four months for the Military Wing, Royal Flying Corps, are in flying order; if so, how many of each; and, if not, in what state they are at present; and whether the Nieuport, Blériot, and Bristol monoplanes, bought for the Military Wing, Royal Flying Corps, prior to October, 1912, are in flying order; if so, which of them are fit to fly; and, if not, will he say why they are not so fit?
437W
§ Colonel SEELYIn reply to this question and number 110*, I may state that all the machines referred to are in flying order but are not being flown pending some alterations in conformity with the recommendations of the Monoplane Accidents Committee.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Secretary of State for War whether the total effective aeroplane strength of the Military Wing, Royal Flying Corps, is made up as follows: No. 2 Squadron, two "B" biplanes and three Maurice Farman biplanes, at Montrose; No. 3 Squadron, one "B" biplane and two Maurice Farman biplanes, at Lark Hill; No. 4 Squadron, two Bregnet biplanes and two "B" biplanes, at Farnborough; if any of these squadrons possess any more aeroplanes, what such aeroplanes are; and whether they have been flown by officers of the Royal Flying Corps?
§ Colonel SEELYIt is not considered to be in the interests of the public service to publish the detailed distribution of aeroplanes. I will make a full statement as to the total numbers on the introduction of Army Estimates, but I may say at once that the statements in the question are not accurate. All the machines now with the Royal Flying Corps have been flown by officers of the corps.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Secreeary of State for War whether it is intended that the Military Wing, Royal Flying Corps, shall have any new dirigible balloons this year; and, if so, whether these are to be of the rigid or non-rigid types; and whether, in the event of airships of either type being produced in this country, the War Office is prepared to purchase them subject to their passing tests previously set by the War Office?
§ Colonel SEELYI propose to deal with this question on the introduction of Army Estimates.