§ Sir R. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has any information showing to what extent British business men, merchants and commercial travellers, have been able to take advantage of the increased facilities at their disposal resulting from the expansion of British air services throughout the Empire during the past two years; and whether, in view of the fact that under present conditions foreigners are able to obtain the same advantages from these air services as British subjects, arrangements can be made to introduce a system of special reduced fares for British merchants, certified by the Department of Overseas Trade to be engaged on business likely to prove beneficial to British export trade?
Captain BalfourInformation is not available to show the extent to which British business men, merchants and commercial travellers have taken advantage during the past two years of the increased British air services to overseas parts of the Empire. In regard to the second part of the question, I am advised that, for administrative and financial reasons, my hon. Friend's suggestion is impracticable.