49. Sir GEORGE HAMILTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the number of fatal accidents in the Royal Air Force during this year; and if any steps are being taken to inquire into the present methods of teaching officers to fly, with a view to preventing such accidents in the future?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEAs regards the first part of the question, there have been six fatal accidents during this year, four at home and two in India. As regards the second part, the question of the pre- 393 vention of accidents is one which engages the continuous attention of my Noble Friend and his expert advisers, with a view to safeguarding by all means in their power the lives of flying personnel. A special school is maintained for the purpose of studying and improving the system of flying training, and for exercising instructors in the latest and most up-to-date methods. Further, every individual accident is studied in detail at the Air Ministry with the utmost care with a view to the incorporation in training instructions of any lessons that may be learnt from it.
§ Captain HAROLD BALFOURCan the Under-Secretary say whether the safety slots in training machines are locked?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEI think in many cases that the safety slot is not used. It all depends on the type of work being done.