§ Mr. J. HUDSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for India what progress has been made in the erection of the mooring mast and other necessary ground equipment at the air port at Karachi; what is the total estimated cost to the Government of India; and whether any part of this cost is being borne on the military budget?
§ Earl WINTERTONAs stated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air, in the reply which he gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Everton (Colonel Woodcock) on 20th March, it is expected that the mooring tower at Karachi will be completed during the summer. As regards the other necessary ground equipment, it is understood that three-quarters of this has already been completed and that the remainder will be ready by about 1st August next. Besides meeting the cost, estimated at £55,000, of the mooring tower, and contributing Rs.4 lakhs (representing Customs duties on materials imported for the construction of the base) towards the cost of the Imperial airship scheme, the Government of India anticipate spending a total sum of Rs.1,83,759 on the acquisition of a site for the airship base at Karachi. In addition they are providing meteorological and wireless facilities for 2083W civil aviation in India generally, the separate cost of which at the Karachi air port cannot be stated. No portion of this expenditure is being borne from military funds.