asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air which were the principal Continental airports recently visited by him during his trip to study Continental air transport systems?

The airports which I visited were those at Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Malmo, Lubeck, Travemunde, Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Vienna, Munich, Nurenburg, Frankfurt, Cologne and Brussels. So far the question is answered, but I would like to add that my journey over nine countries in ten different types of aeroplanes in four-and-a-half days afforded convincing evidence of the comfort and efficiency of Continental air travel.

Can the hon. Gentleman say by what staff he was accompanied, and whether he made the voyage as a guest of the Continental transport lines?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if the Air Ministry charge a reproduction fee in respect of all photographs published of airship R101; if so, what is the amount of revenue so derived to date from this charge; and whether this practice is customary in respect of all photographs portraying Government aircraft?

The answer to the first and last parts of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part that the amount received up to 31st December, 1929, in respect of reproduction fees, was £67.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the amount of the Estimate originally submitted to the House for the construction of R101; what is its actual cost; and what was the actual total cost of R100?

As regards the first two parts of the question, the original estimate was a composite one for the whole airship programme, of 1924, but the sum provided for the construction of R101 may be put at approximately £300,000. Owing to the novel and experimental character of the design, the time taken in construction proved materially longer than had originally been estimated, and in consequence, this figure had subsequently to be increased; and in the Air Estimates for 1929 a figure of £527,000 was given for this purpose. The figure of actual cost cannot yet be stated. As regards the last part of the question, I have no official information, but it has been publicly stated that the cost of constructing R100 largely exceeded the contract price of £350,000.

Does the hon. Gentleman think that it is to the interest of the State that airships—

Mr. Lees.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if any report has yet been received from the Italian Government about the loss of the seaplane "City of Rome"?

Yes, Sir; a report has been received from the Italian Air Ministry, but it relates mainly to the working of that department's organisation on the Naples-Genoa route. I am afraid that nothing material can be added to the reply which I gave my hon. Friend on 27th November.

In previous replies the hon. Gentleman informed us that the Italian Government had not sent a report; what steps has the Minister taken with a view to getting it?

I have already told the hon. Gentleman that a report has been received from the Italian Government.