Captain CAZALETasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what is the total subsidy which has been given to civil aviation in this country, including that given to Imperial Airways, during the last five years; and what are the comparable figures for France, Germany, and the United States of America over the same period?
§ Sir P. SASSOONThe only figures between which a direct comparison can conveniently be drawn are those relating to subsidies for the operation of regular services, and in most cases it is only possible to give the amounts taken in estimates and not those actually expended. The approximate amounts of subsidies, taking conversions of currency at the par rates of exchange, for the five years 1929–1933 are:
1773W
— Great Britain. France. Germany. United States. £ £ £ £ 1929 … … … 339,200 1,387,167 930,005 2,975,749 1930 … … … 388,750 1,577,811 930,005 2,848,988 1931 … … … 394,882 1,577,811 921,439 3,528,051 1932 … … … 398,343 1,582,480 849,828 4,900,393 1933 … … … 399,959 1,465,260 849,828 4,755,627 Totals … … … £1,921,134 £7,590,529 £4,481,105 £19,008,808 The financial year differs in the various countries. In the United States of America in particular it ends on 30th June, and the figures given are those for the 12 months ending 30th June, 1929, and the four following years. It should be added that in the case of the United States of America the true subsidy can only be ascertained in arrear when the Post Office makes known the loss actually incurred on the operation of air mail services. The United States of America figure for the year 1929 is an estimate; those for the other years are the published figures of losses. The figures for Great Britain exclude the Dominion and Colonial contributions to certain Imperial air services.