§ 53. Mr. WAKEFIELDasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the number of pilots in possession of A and B licences, with the average number of hours flown per pilot for the respective classes of licences, for the years 1933, 1934 and 1935; and also comparative information for America, Germany, Italy and France, with the corresponding types of licences in force in those countries?
§ Sir P. SASSOONAs the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Following is the answer:
United Kingdom.—The number of pilots in possession of current A licences on the 31st December, 1933, 1934 and 1935 were respectively 2,611, 2,980 and 3,353. The figures for B licences on the same dates were 441, 498 and 583.
France.—The corresponding figures were, as regards A licences, 3,248 and 4,107 on 31st December, 1933 and 1934, and as regards B licences, 1,210 and 931 on the same dates. Figures for 31st December, 1935, are not yet available.
Italy.—Information is not yet available except as regards the number on 31st December, 1933, which were 768 and 500 for A and B licences respectively.
United States of America.—The classification is different and comparative figures cannot be given as regards B licences. The numbers of licences comparable to A licences in this country were 5,771, 5,789 and 6,707 on 31st December, 1933, 1934 and 1935 respectively.
Germany.—Comparable information is not available.
It is not possible to give information in any of the cases as to the average number of hours flown per pilot.