§ Mr. WELLSasked the Secretary of State for Air if the airship that is being built at Cardington, R 101, will remain under his control when completed; and can he state whether this ship, after the necessary trials, will be used for flights to the different parts of the Empire?
§ Sir S. HOAREIt is intended to employ this airship on flights to India and the Dominions under Air Ministry control, with a view to the subsequent development of airship transport, which I should hope will at that stage be by private enterprise.
§ Mr. WELLSasked the Secretary of State for Air whether the airship that is being built at Howden, R 100, is to be used for commercial purposes between this country and the United States of America; when this airship will be ready for its trial flights; and will he have any responsibility in respect of this ship?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe Airship Guarantee Company have the option under one of the clauses in their contract of purchasing the R 100 for £150,000 within six months of the conclusion of her trials, subject to their establishing a British airship transport service approved by me. Whether the airship will be used for such a service as that contemplated in the first part of the question will depend upon the proposals put forward by the company under this clause. As regards the second part of the question, I cannot add anything to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Rose) on the 9th May. As regards the last part, the Air Ministry is responsible for the airship during her trial flights, but the eventual responsibility (which I imagine my hon. Friend has in mind) will depend, of course, on whether the option above referred to is exercised.