§ 44. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked what progress is being made in the organisation of the Royal Flying Corps as outlined by him; and whether one aeroplane squadron out of seven promised has yet been placed upon an efficient basis?
§ Colonel SEELYSteady progress is being made. One airship and kite squadron, three aeroplane squadrons, the Flying Depot, the headquarters Military Wing, and the Central Flying School have been formed, but the personnel of these units is not yet complete.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSDoes a squadron which is formed mean a squadron which is ready to go to war?
§ Colonel SEELYIt is a little difficult to say in a new art like flying, and a new thing like the Royal Flying Corps, that it would be ready to take the field, but, as I have said, steady progress is being made.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSAre they squadrons on paper, or are they effective?
§ Colonel SEELYThey are not squadrons on paper; they are very real, and have made a very great advance.
§ 55. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked how many applications to join the Royal Flying Corps have been received since its formation and how many have been accepted; how many applications have been rejected and what were the reasons for rejection; and how many candidates 447 have been rejected since 30th September, and is one reason for their rejection the lack of facilities to train them?
§ Colonel SEELYThere have been 198 applications from officers and civilians. Of these 154 have been accepted, twenty-five were rejected, and fourteen are under consideration. Fifteen of these rejections took place after the 30th September. All the rejections were due to the unsuitability of the applicants and none to lack of facilities for training.
§ 56. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked whether money is still available, without a Supplementary Estimate, to complete the development of the Royal Flying Corps and Central Flying School in accordance with the promise of the Secretary of State in April last?
§ Colonel SEELYThe reply is in the affirmative.
§ 61. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked how many military officers hold the superior certificate of the Royal Aero Club; and whether less efficiency than that necessary to obtain such a certificate is considered to constitute a trained military pilot?
§ Colonel SEELYNo information regarding the first part of the question is available at the War Office. As regards the rest of the question, the standard reached by officers who have qualified at the Central Flying School or with the Military Wing is considered as high as that required for the Aero Club's superior certificate.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSCannot the right hon. Gentleman ascertain how many hold this certificate?
§ Colonel SEELYOf course we can, but we could not ascertain it so easily as the hon. Gentleman himself. I wanted to emphasise the fact that we do not ask of officers a return on this point.
§ 62. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked whether the aeroplanes stated to be over due from British manufacturers have been delayed in delivery through the dilatoriness of Government inspectors or through alterations in the official designs after certain parts had been constructed; whether the fifteen machines on order are supposed to be sufficient to supply the Royal Flying Corps with an adequate number of aero planes; and, if not, why no further orders have been given?
§ Colonel SEELYThe delay in completion of the aeroplanes due from British manufacturers has not been caused by any dilatoriness on the part of Government inspectors, but the necessity for constant inspection may have caused a portion of the delay in some cases. Further orders are being placed.
§ 60. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked whether the Clement Bayard airship, which cost this country £ 18,000, still exists; if not, whether any use is being made of her engines and other equipment; and, if so, what use?
§ Colonel SEELYThe airship has been dismantled, but the parts still exist. No use has yet been made of the engines, which are, however, now being tested with a view to being used.
§ Mr. LEEWhy was no attempt made even to give a trial to the ship after it arrived in England, and why was it allowed to remain until a portion of it has rotted away?
§ Colonel SEELYIt is a long time since the Clement Bayard airship came over, and we have had to buy our experience in this matter at a much less cost than other countries. I could not go into the whole question in a reply—it is rather a long story—but I should be able to give a memorandum on the precise point.