asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will make provision for the sum of £10,000, won by the Royal Air Force in the air race from Britain to New Zealand and payable to the Treasury, to be paid to the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

I have the highest regard for the purposes of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, but it is a fund supported by voluntary contributions. The prize money will have to be credited to public funds and Parliament has not authorised the payment of public funds for the support of the benevolent fund. I should add that the expenditure incurred by the Royal Air Force on preparations for the race naturally substantially exceeded the amount of the prize money.