§ 19. Mr. WHITESIDEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that there is serious doubt as to the practical flying experience of service members of the Air Council; and whether he could state approximately the number of hours flown by each of the four service members during the past three years?
§ Sir P. SASSOONAll three service members of the Air Council have in fact done a large amount of flying during the 1750 past three years when opportunity has offered in the course of tours of inspection, etc., without interference with their normal duties. In view, however, of the apparent misconception underlying this question, my Noble Friend desires to make it quite clear that such flying is in no sense obligatory upon them, and he has no intention of making it so.
§ 20. Mr. WHITESIDEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that officers above the rank of wing-commander are not required to keep any record of their flying hours either as pilots or passengers; and whether, in order to ascertain that the practical flying experience of senior officers in the Royal Air Force is not less than that of senior officers in the Air Forces of the United States of America, Belgium, Italy, and Australia, he will consider having such records kept?
§ Sir P. SASSOONA record is kept of the amount of flying performed by all officers of the general duties branch of the Royal Air Force up to and including the rank of group captain. My Noble Friend does not consider it necessary to institute a similar record in the case of air officers.
§ Mr. WHITESIDEAs a log of every flight made by a machine is kept, giving the name of the pilot, is there any reason why this information should not be extracted?
§ Sir P. SASSOONMy Noble Friend is perfectly satisfied about it.