HC Deb 12 March 1925 vol 181 cc1535-6W
Sir H. BRITTAIN

asked the Secretary for Air the number of airships now in commission in the United States; and of which type or types they consist?

Sir S. HOARE

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave yesterday to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bedford (Mr. Wells).

Captain WEDGWOOD BENN

asked the Secretary of State for Air the nature of the proposals made relative to a joint Anglo-French seaplane route from Marseilles via Alexandretta, to Iraq; and the reasons for the decision given?

Sir S. HOARE

Tentative proposals were made last year by a French promoter for a French flying-boat service from Marseilles to Alexandretta, and for a combined Anglo-French service from Alexandretta to Iraq. These proposals were made known to the Air Ministry as well as to the French Government. The technical and financial assumptions en which the scheme was based did not appear to the Air Ministry to be valid, and the matter was allowed to drop so far as any question of British support was concerned. It is not known to what extent, if any, the proposals commended themselves to the French Government.

Major GLYN

asked the Secretary of State for Air what is the total number of pilots' licences now issued; what is the total number of air-worthiness certificates now issued; what is the total number of factories in Great Britain engaged in the production of aeroplanes, seaplanes, and flying boats, respectively; and how do all these present-day figures compare for the year 1916, 1920, 1923?

Sir S. HOARE

The numbers of pilots' licences issued and current on 31st December, 1920, 31st December, 1923, and 10th March, 1925, were 175, 131, and 142, respectively. The numbers of certificates of air-worthiness issued and current at the same dates were 240, 157, and 183, respectively. Such licences and certificates were not issued prior to 1919, and there are therefore no corresponding figures for 1916. The numbers of firms engaged in the production of aeroplanes, seaplanes and flying boats were 43, 18, and 17 in the years 1916, 1920, and 1923, respectively; the present number is 20

Mr. HOMAN

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether a costing department exists in the Ministry?

Sir S. HOARE

There is no separate costing department in the Air Ministry, but branches of the directorates of Contracts and Accounts undertake costing work of a technical and a financial kind, respectively.