§ 33. Lord APSLEYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the number of private owners flying their own machines who held flying licences in 1935 and the corresponding number in 1934 and 1928, respectively?
§ Sir P. SASSOONThe precise information asked for is not available. The num- 440 ber of aircraft used for private purposes at the end of 1935 was 589, the corresponding figures for 1934 and 1928 being 478 and 125 respectively. The number of private owners is now about 500; some own more than one aircraft.
§ 34. Lord APSLEYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the number of owner-pilots who had less than ten hours and more than 100 hours of flying, respectively, registered on their pilot's logbooks during the year for which renewal of their flying licences was applied for in 1935, 1934, and 1928, respectively?
§ Sir P. SASSOONI regret that the information desired by my Noble Friend is not available.
§ Lord APSLEYIs the Minister aware that every owner has to send in his logbook and supply complete information as to the flying hours for each year, in order to get his licence and that this year further particulars are being asked from private owners who have to fill up forms giving those particulars and whether such an expensive department ought to be maintained for inquiring into all these matters when simple information such as I have inquired for is not made available?
§ Sir P. SASSOONThe renewal of licences by the Air Ministry is given on evidence being produced that the minimum number of hours flying has been performed by the owner of the aircraft in the past 12 months. The Air Ministry do not propose to keep all the statistics of the flying hours of every individual owner.
§ Lord APSLEYIs it not the case, that every detail is inquired for by the Air Ministry; and is the Minister aware that in my own case they kept my log-book for three weeks and that I had to write to them to get it back.
§ Sir P. SASSOONThat shows that it must have been a very interesting book.