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Aviation History
1916
1916 - 1067.PDF
NOVEMBER 30, 1916. [/UCHT AVIATION IN PARLIAMENT. Air Raid Insurance. SIR EDWARD BEAUCHAMP, in the House of Commons on November 21st, asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called by the War Damage Committee, which claims to represent 718 municipalities, with a population of over 28,000,000, to the unfairness of the present scheme of insurance against aircraft and bombardment, which imposes a burden upon citizens unequal in its incidence because determined by geographical situation ; and whether the Government will reconsider the question, with a view to giving compensation to owners of property and goods that have already been, or may in future be, damaged or destroyed either by aircraft or bombardment ? Mr. Noel Buxton asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the desirability of granting full compensation to owners of property damaged by aircraft and bombard ment, in view of the unequal incidence of the existing system of insurance on different parts of the country ? The Prime Minister : The answer to the first part of Question 79 is in the affirmative. As I have already informed the House, the Government are considering whether any alteration is necessary in their policy as regards injuries and loss of life in this country due to enemy operations. But I see no reason to alter the scheme of insurance against material losses due to this cause, which I believe is generally regarded as adequate ? Sir E. Beauchamp : Cannot the right hon. gentleman accept the suggestion in its entirety, so that the additional premiums charged for loss and damage due to bombardment should be remitted and dispensed with, as this charge falls on those on the coast who have already suffered severely ? The Prime Minister : That is being considered, certainly. Mr. Hogge : When will a decision be given as to awarding compensation in cases in which lives have been lost ? The Prime Minister: I cannot say. It is an urgent matter. Mr. Billing: In the event of there being a change in Government policy, and this additional compensation being given, will it be given in the case of those who have lost their lives and property since the outbreak of war ? The Prime Minister: That is a hypothetical question to which I can only give a contingent answer. The Air Board Report. MR. ASHLEY asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an early day for the discussion of the motion on the powers of the Air Board, standing in the name of several hon. members ? The Prime Minister : Yes, Sir ; facilities will certainly be given for this discussion, but I cannot yet name an exact date. Mr. Ashley: May we have this discussion before the decision of the War Committee and not alterwards, so that we may express an opinion on the subject ? The Prime Minister: I cannot promise that, but the House will certainly have a full opportunity of discussing it. Mr. Billing: Have the naval branches of the Air Service been held up pending these constantly postponed decisions of the Government ? The Prime Minister : No, Sir. The Royal Naval Air Service. MR. JOYNSON-HICKS, on November 22nd, asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what percentage of the personnel of the Royal Naval Air Service are pilots ; what percentage are on service in Great Britain; and, of the latter, what percentage are of military age 1 Dr. Macnamara : The percentage of trained pilots on the total personnel of the Royal Naval Air Service (officers and ratings) is 3 • 2 ; the percentage of pilots under training compared with the total personnel is 1*7. making a total of 4-9 per cent, on the total personnel of the Royal Naval Air Service. Of the trained pilots in the Royal Naval Air Service, 47-7 per cent, are serving abroad leaving 52-3 per cent, serving at home. All the latter are between the ages of 18 and 41, and include pilots for the " Lighter-than-Air " side and those employed on training and instructional work. Transfers from R.N.A.S. to R.F.C. MR. JOYNSON-HICKS asked whether several officers of the Royal Naval Air Service have applied for transfers to the I Royal Flying Corps; and why, as the latter corps needs pilots, the transfers have been ret used ? Dr. Macnamara : As far as can be traced, three applications have recently been received from Koval Naval Air Service pilots to transfer to the Koval Flying Corps, two of whom wished to transfer as pilots and one as an observer. One of these officers was a trained airship pilot and the others were trained seaplane pilots. All were trained in types ol aircraft peculiar to the Royal Naval Air Service, and it was considered tliev were doing b. ttw service 111 the Royal Naval Air Service, where their services were urgently required, than they would have done had they been transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. Admiralty Aeroplane Contracts. MR. JOYNSON-HICKS asked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) whether he is aware that in the early part of the war, one Lyman J. Seely, selling agent of an American aeroplane factory, informed his company that, through the influence in London of an English barrister, he would be able to get a large order for aeroplanes if he were allowed a com mission of 15 per cent., as that was the usual rate for such business, in addition to the 1 per cent, which had up to that date been his previous rale for obtaining orders; and, if so, what steps lie proposes to take; and (*) whether he is aware that in certain large orders placed in America for the supply of aeroplanes, there was added to the price a sum of 15 per cent., or one-sixth of the total order, amounting to some millions of dollars, for disbursements in England for securing the Admiralty order ; whether various payments on account of these commissions have been made by the vendors to a certain English barrister ; what precisely were the services rendered by him ; whether the Admiralty has made any inquiry as to the origin and destination of this commission ; and whether there was any necessity for paying a price to cover such a commission when the vendors were in direct communication with the Admiralty, and there was both a willing seller and a willing purchaser ? Dr. Macnamara We are informed that the gentlemen referred to represented the company in this country and were entitled to receive certain payments or commissions under the terms of the agreements between the company and them selves. The agreements, we learn, do not merely deal with agents' selling commissions, but with patent rights and other matters. During the course of an examination of accounts last July, it appeared that payment of commissions to agents to the extent of 16 per cent, of the contract price was being made. We objected and asked for explanations, and further inquiries are proceeding in the States. I should add that in the matter of our inquiries the company is giving us every assistance. I do not wish to prejudge the case one way or another, but it appears to be clear that the payments were made solely to the two persons referred to under the business agreements subsisting between them and their agents in this particular case. Mr. Joynson-Hicks : Will the right hon. gentleman make inquiry whether these commissions were paid, as suggested in the question, for influencing business at the Admiralty ? May we take it it is to be rigorously inquired into t If so, 1 will postpone any further questions for the present. Dr. Macnamara : An inquiry is now being held into (he accounts, in which the company is assisting. The point my hon. friend puts is certainly one which will be fully gone into ; I will give him that assurance. Mr. G. Faber : Can the right hon. gentleman say anything about the barrister mentioned in the ti;st question ? Dr. Macnamara : Obviously that is a question which will arise on the inquiry I have promised. Mr. Ashley : Does it not mean that if the Government enable the company to pay 16 per cent, to their agents they are paying too much for the aeroplanes T Dr. Macnamara : I have said I am anxious not to prejudge the question. I do not think I ought to be called upon to answer questions in view of the promised inquiry. The House will have full opportunity of considering on the Report of the Public Accounts Committee. Mr. Ashley : But that Committee will not know the facts for 18 months ? Mr. Joynson-Hicks : Might we not have a small Parliamen tary Inquiry into Admiralty contracts, as to which there is a great deal of dissatisfaction ? 059
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