AIR SERVICES, CALCUTTA-SINGAPORE.
asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the Government is taking any action as to the recommendations of Sir Alan Cobham as to improved meteorological facilities and ground organisations along the route between Calcutta and Singapore for the purpose of combating monsoon risks?
I understand that Sir Alan Cobham's suggestions, as reported in the Press, had reference to the meteorological and other facilities which would be required for a regular air service between Calcutta and Singapore. Before such a service is instituted, any recommendations made by Sir Alan Cobham as a result of his experiences will, of course, receive the fullest consideration from the authorities concerned.
PARACHUTES.
asked the Secretary of State for Air whether the Government have tested the new American invention as to parachutes for the aeroplanes themselves; and whether they propose utilising it for some other analogous device?
The particular invention referred to has not been tested, but a similar proposal was carefully considered and rejected some time ago. While a parachute to sustain an individual is quite practicable, the weight and bulk of one to sustain a complete aircraft would be incompatible with present-day performance, and, as far as the aircraft itself is concerned, it is considered to be better to make it safe to fly than to rely on extraneous aids of this nature.
PARENTS' ALLOWANCES.
asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will consider of so amending the regulations governing allowances which may be granted to the parents of airmen who lose their lives in the service that, in the case where a deceased airman has been making an allowance to his parents, a lump sum be granted to them, although their means may not be such as to render them literally dependent on him at the time of his death?
The regulations referred to by the hon. and gallant Member were approved after very full consideration and are common to the three fighting services. I do not think that there is any case for amending them in the manner suggested.
INVALIDED RATINGS (APPEALS).
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has given consideration to the establishment of an appeal tribunal for ratings invalided from His Majesty's Navy on the model of the Ministry of Pensions?
The answer is in the affirmative, and I regret that I can add nothing to my reply of the 18th May [OFFICIAL, REPORT, cols. 123–4] to the hon. and gallant Member for North Portsmouth (Sir B. Falle).
Loss OF SUBMARINE M 1 (DIVING APPARATUS).
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can now state the result of the trial of the special diving device used for the purpose of endeavouring to locate the sunken submarine M 1?
The further trial of the German, apparatus referred to in my reply of the 22nd July [OFFICIAL REPORT, cols. 1429–30] has been commenced, but is not yet concluded, and operations have had to be abandoned for the present. A British dress is also to be tried as soon as circumstances permit.
WARRANT OFFICERS AND OFFICERS (APPLICATIONS TO RETIRE).
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of warrant officers and officers promoted therefrom who made application to retire under the 1922 scheme and who were informed that they could not do so?
The number is 853.
HOUSING, DEVONPORT.
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of the serious housing congestion in Devonport, which has been aggravated by the Government's transfer of employés from Rosyth and Pembroke; that there is a certain number of pre-war pensioners who would be willing to let rooms to relieve the housing shortage, but who by doing so would lose part of their pensions because their incomes would be brought over the means limit; and whether, in these circumstances, he will suggest some modification of the Acts which impose these means limit restrictions?
I have no information with regard to the matters referred to in the first two parts of the question. In reply to the last part, as has been repeatedly stated, His Majesty's Government are not prepared to introduce legislation to amend the Pensions (Increase) Acts.