§ Mr. A. T. DAVIESasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many miles have been flown under the present subsidy arrangements by companies operating in connection with civil aviation; what amount has each such company received for the miles flown by its machines; whether any company has received the full subsidy notwithstanding that the number of miles stipulated by the Ministry has not been flown; whether it is the rule of the Ministry to pay a pro rata amount should the full number of miles stipulated not have been flown; and, if so, why has the general rule been varied in a particular case or cases?
§ Mr. LEACHThe aggregate distance flown on subsidy-earning flights from 1st October, 1922, when the present system of subsidy was adopted, up to the 31st January last, was 888,621 miles, and the total amounts paid to each company to the same date were:
The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative, but in two cases subsidy payments have been suspended since the beginning of January last. As regards the fourth pail, the system of payment is that the Air Ministry issues each fortnight a sum equal to one-twenty-sixth of the total subsidy for a yearly period or one-thirteenth of that for a half-yearly period and makes at the end of the period in question the necessary adjustment to secure that the total amount paid is proportionate to the actual mileage flown. As regards the last part of the question, I am not aware of any variation from the general rule, but if the hon. Member will supply me with any information of which he may be in possession I will have full inquiry made.
- British Marine Air Navigation Co., Ltd., £3,846 3s. 4d.
- Daimler Hire, Ltd., £69,807 13s. 8d.
- Handley Page Transport, Ltd., £26,927 12s. 9d.
- Instone Air Line, Ltd., £39,775 3s. 9d.