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Aviation History
1922
1922 - 0388.PDF
JULY 6, 1922 IN PARLIAMENT Air Power MR. LAMBERT, on June 26, asked the Prime Minister whether, as our Air Force is dangerously deficient as a protection against invasion, and the fighting services are costing this year £167,000,000 as against £86,000,000 pre-War, he will appoint a Commission to ascertain how most efficiently the public money can be spent for defence, having regard to modern aircraft developments ? The Prime Minister : No, Sir. The matters referred to are already under the consideration of the Committee of Imperial Defence. Mr. Lambert : Has any definite action been taken to avoid a great waste of the taxpayers' money ? The Prime Minister : The matter is being carefully considered by the experts who advise the Government, and they are also considering the machinery for the purpose. Mr. Lambert: In view of the fact that the Committee of Defence is a very hard-worked body, will the right hon. gentleman consider the advisability of appointing a separate Commission ? The Prime Minister : I think it must be the Committee of Imperial Defence ; a separate Committee of that body. Indian Mails LIEUT.-COMMANDER KENWORTHV, on June 27, asked the Postmaster-General how long the mails take to reach India from this country; if he is aware of the great importance to merchants in Great Britain and India of a quick mail service ; what steps are being taken to expedite the Indian mail service ; and whether the possibilities of quick overland or aerial transport have been considered, and with what result ? Mr. Pease : The Indian mail is due at Bombay in I4i days after leaving London. Occasionally it arrives rather later, as the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company have not yet been able to replace fully their war osses and to provide a fleet of uniform speed for the service. I am aware of the great importance to commercial interests of a quick mail service to India, and advantage is taken of every opportunity of improving the service. I do not see any prospect of "any material acceleration in overland transit. The possibilities of air transport in connection with the Imperial mail services generally are being explored by the Civil Aviation Advisory Board. Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy : Is the right hon. gentleman's Department in constant consultation with the Middle East Department with a view to utilising aircraft, which now fly continuously in that area, with a view to quickening up the mails ? Mr. Pease : This question is being considered by the Civil Aviation Advisory Board at present. Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy : Is the Post Office represented on that ? Mr. Pease : Yes. Royal Air Force (Naval Wing) VISCOUNT CURZON asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can make any statement or give any figures to show the work actually carried out by the Naval Wing of the Royal Air Force during the past 12 months ? Capt. Guest : Beyond stating that I am satisfied with the progress that has been made in the development of aircraft co-operation with the Navy during the past 12 months, I do not consider that it would be in the public interest to make any detailed statement of the work performed or to give any figures of the flights carried out. Viscount Curzon : Is the right hon. gentleman aware that during the discussion on the Air Force Estimates he failed to give any item of information relating to the work of the Naval Air Service, and a wide impression exists that the power provided by the Air Ministry is not adequate for the work which that service has to do ? Capt. Guest : The wide impression is largely created by my noble friend, Next year I will do my best to make up for it. Minister of Air MR. L. MALONE asked the Prime Minister whether, in v'ew of the fact that it is increasingly possible to substitute air forces for naval or military forces and thereby effect considerable economies, he will reconsider his decision and place the Air Minister on a footing in the Cabinet where air propositions will not be overruled by naval and military arguments put forward without a proper consideration of the air side of the question ? Mr. Lloyd George: I have nothing to add to my answer of June 22. I do not accept the allegation in the last part of the hon. member's question. Foreign Passenger Aircraft and a Second Pilot SIR H. BRITTAIN asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, seeing that at least 60 foreign-owned aeroplanes, carrying but a single pilot, are expected to continue trading between their respective countries and Great Britain, he can give instructions to advise the British travelling public as to which concerns are taking the precaution of carrying an additional pilot on .each of their 'planes ? Capt. Guest : The desirability of passenger aircraft being provided with a second pilot is appreciated, but it is not a compulsory condition for inter national navigation under the Air Navigation Convention of 1919, and I think that the British public must use their own judgment in selecting the air line by which they travel. I may add that nearly all the French aero planes flying on the London-Paris service have accommodation for a second pilot, although not fitted for dual control (The Dutch machines flying on the England-Holland route have accommodation for one pilot only.) Night Flying SIR H BRITTAIN asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is able to inform the House as to the results achieved in the recent experiments in night flying carried out between this country and France ? Capt. Guest: The flight of the British aeroplane from London to Paris by night was quite successful. It established the fact that the lighting arrange ments, both in this country and in France, are satisfactory, except that wind indicating lights have not vet been established on the emergency landing- places ; steps are being taken to remedy this defect so far as the British portion of the route is concerned. It is understood that the French flight from Paris to London and back was equally successful Capital Ships and Air Attack Experiments LIEUT.-COMMANDER KENWORTHV, on June 28, asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is proposed to carry out experiments with the various methods of attack from the air against any of the capital ships due to be scrapped under the terms of the Washington agreement ?y»« Commander Eyres-Monsell: The answer is in the affirmative, . . - Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy : Can we be informed of some details ? How many ships are going to be experimented upon, and when will it take iplace ? Commander Eyres-Monsell: The experiments are being carried out on H.M.S. "Superb." These will be preceded by those on the monitor " Gordon," which does not come under the provisions of the Washington Treaty. R.A.F. Aeroplanes MR. ALFRED T. DAVIES, on June 29, asked the Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been directed to the fact that at the recent display of the Royal Air Force at Hendon the aeroplanes used were each, approxi mately, four years old; whether similar machines are being used in Iraq, Somaliland, and India on active service ; whether any squadrons of the Royal Air Force are equipped with up-to-date aeroplanes ; what number of new and improved aeroplanes have been supplied to squadrons of the Royal Air Force this year; and what is the cost of such supplyy? Captain Guest : In answer to the first question, it is true that the aeroplanes used at Hendon, with the exception of the experimental machines, were not less than four years old, but they were all thoroughly sound and serviceable, many of them recently re-conditioned, and all capable of satisfactory per formance. As regards the second and third questions, the same general remark applies, but some of the squadrons abroad have been partly re-armed with new aeroplanes, and the four squadrons working with the Navy are being completely re-armed. The answer to the fourth and fifth questions is, that 10 aeroplanes of new type have been issued to squadrons since 1st April, "1922, and that the approximate cost was £106,000. Rear-Admiral Sueter asked the Secretary of State for Air if he can give the date of construction of the majority of machines now in use for air work in Iraq ; whether these machines are satisfactory and their carrying capacity adequate when the proper load of petrol is carried for the desert journey ; and at what date will more modern machines, such as those being now used on the London-Paris route, be sent out to replace the older types ? Captain Guest: With the exception of the Vickers type, all the aeroplanes used on the cross-desert route are either of 1918 or 1919 build ; the Vickers, of 1921 build, with a few of 1919 and 1920. These aeroplanes are all serviceable, and it would be expensive and quite unnecessary to replace them at present. In the interests of economy, it is urgently necessary to use up existing serviceable war stocks of aeroplanes before ordering new ones. The aeroplanes are not specially built for the cross-desert route, and it is neither necessary nor practicable to build a new type of aeroplane for every kind of work which the Air Force has to do. The civil aeroplanes used on the London-Paris route are of a variety of types, and would not be suitable for the Royal Air Force work without extensive modifications. I can assure my hon. and gallant friend that the question of the re-equipment of the Royal Air Force with new types of aeroplanes is fully recognised as one of the greatest importance, and is being given constant careful consideration by my expert advisers. Captain Viscount Curzon : Is it not a fact that many firms engaged in the manufacture of aircraft and aircraft engines are being compelled to go out of business altogether through lack of orders ? Captain Guest : I regret to say there is a good deal of truth in the noble lord's supplementary. The Burney Airship Scheme MR. L'ESTRANGE MALONE asked the Secretary of State for Air if his Department has approved the Burney airship scheme ; and, if any reserva tions were made, what were those reservations ? Captain Guest: The Burney airship scheme has been referred to the Committee of Imperial Defence for consideration, and I do not think that it would be proper for me to make any further statement on the matter at the present time. Mr. Malone asked the Prime Minister whether the Burney airship scheme has yet been considered by the Committee of Imperial Defence ; and when a decision may be expected ? Mr. Lloyd George : The Burney airship scheme is being considered by the Committee of Imperial Defence, and it is hoped that a decision will be taken at an early date. Civil Aviation REAR-ADMIRAL SUETER asked the Secretary of State for Air, in view of the allegations now being made that civil aviation in this country has almost entirely disappeared, and that the aircraft industry is lacking in orders to keep it in a normal healthy condition, whether he will state what steps he proposes to take to remedy this state of affairs ? Captain Guest : It would be impracticable to deal adequately with the state of civil aviation in this country by way of question and answer, and I can only repeat the suggestion made in my reply on June 19, that, if the House desires, an opportunity to discuss the question can be taken on the Civil Aviation Vote, which is still on the Paper. Captain Wedgwood Benn : Will the right hon. gentleman speak to the Leader of the House, with a view to getting an additional Supply day for this important purpose ? Captain Guest: I suggest to the hon. and gallant gentleman the usual channels. Captain W. Benn : I am asking whether the right hon. gentleman will support those who wish for an additional day. He is aware that the 20 days are fully occupied with controversial and political topics. Lieut.-Col. Sir F. Hall: Is it not advisable, seeing that a Committee is now sitting on civil aviation, that the matter should be left in abeyance until their first report comes forward, and is it not a fact that that report is expected very shortly ? Aerial Defence LIEUT.-COMMANDER KENWORTHV asked the Prime Minister whether he will give the names of the persons forming the Committee to consider the problem of aerial defence; how long the Committee has been in being ; how many sittings have been held ; who is the chairman, and what means are taken to consult the War Office, Admiralty and Air Ministry, and to keep them informed of the conclusions arrived at ? The Prime Minister : It is not considered desirable to give the information asked for as to the composition and proceedings of committees conducting secret enquiries. The Admiralty, War Office and Air Ministry are represented on the Committee, and its conclusions wih be communicated to the Depart ments concerned in due course. Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy: Can my right hon. friend answer the second part of the question as to how long this Committee has been in being ? Is he aware that there is a great deal of public anxiety that money is being wasted on obsolete weapons of war and not on the air service ? The Prime Minister: I know there is a feeling of anxiety, and quite reasonably so. I also know that this matter is being pressed forward by the various Departments concerned, but there is some preparation required before they can investigate the matter. Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy: How long has the Committee been functioning / 388
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