§ Mr. JOELasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has any information to show to what extent the British air service to Africa is appreciated by the Governments and settlers in British East African dependencies; and what representations have been made to him with 1296W a view to increasing the number or size of aircraft used on the service in order to provide for those who wish to travel by the service but who cannot get accommodation?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI have every reason to believe that the British air service in Africa is much appreciated by the Governments and settlers of the British East African dependencies. I understand that over 300 passengers have been carried over the northern section of the route, i.e., between Cairo and Kisumu during the last five months. The present average weekly figures for mails carried to and from the East African dependencies are as follow:
Outward—170 lbs., representing approximately 5,500 letters;
Homeward—160 lbs., representing approximately 5,200 letters.
It may be of interest to mention that Sir Hubert Young, the new Governor of Nyasaland, together with Lady Young and their family, are travelling by air from Cairo to Salisbury en route for the protectorate. As regards the latter part of the question, I understand that Imperial Airways are fully alive to the need for extra capacity on the East African section of the route and are, in fact, operating the North African section for the first time this week with one of the Hannibal class of aircraft, and are now considering how best to provide the required capacity for the future.