§ Mr. REMERasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has had inquiries made into the circumstances how cypress came to be sanctioned for use on areoplanes contrary to all the expert advice given by timber opinion; how many pilots' lives were lost through this unsuitable timber being used; what was the cost to the nation of this colossal blunder, and whether, in order to avoid such occurrences in future, he will appoint a trade committee to fully investigate and advise on the proper woods to be used in aeroplane construction, having regard to the bearing this matter has on the future safety in civilian and military flying?
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§ Major-General SEELYOwing to the shortage of the best tried types of wood, the use of cypress for areoplanes was for a time sanctioned by the responsible Technical Department on expert advice to meet war necessities. One fatal accident was held to be partly, but not wholly, attributable to the use of this wood, which has now been discontinued. The best independent expert opinion is already at the disposal of the Air Ministry on the subject of woods for aeroplane construction, and I do not think that there is any occasion for the appointment of a committee such as is suggested in the last part of the question.