§ Sir R. SANDERSasked the Secretary of State for Air what is the approximate cost of the Air Estimates for 1925-26 if the amount were calculated on the basis of pre-War prices and wages and the cost of non-effective services was deducted?
§ Sir S. HOAREI regret that I cannot give the figure for which my right hon. and gallant Friend asks. Any such recalculation in terms of pre-War costs as that suggested, unless done in a rough and ready fashion, which would be valueless or misleading, would not only involve a very great amount of detailed work, but would be quite impracticable in so far as a large section of the Air Votes is concerned. The current Estimates include a large provision for aircraft, engines and spares of types which were non-existent2432W in 1914 and which, if one can assume their being manufactured under any circumstances then, would have been manufactured, inspected, tested, etc., under conditions wholly different from those prevailing to-day. The recalculation would necessarily be on such a fictitious or theoretical basis, in so far as it was possible at all, that I hesitate to give instructions for the undertaking of the work involved.