§ 16. Sir A. Knoxasked the Minister of Aircraft Production, what is the annual 1929 cost of the Air Transport Auxiliary Force and what duties it performs?
§ The Minister of Aircraft Production (Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon:)It would not be in the public interest to disclose the annual cost of the Air Transport Auxiliary. The function of the Auxiliary is to ferry Royal Air Force and Royal Naval aircraft from the makers in the United Kingdom to storage and operational units.
§ Sir A. KnoxWould it not be possible to get British pilots to carry out this work? Is the organisation under military law? Could it not be brought under the Royal Air Force?
§ Lieut.-Colonel Moore-BrabazonAs to the first Question, we discussed it by Question and answer last week. It is under military law, and the Royal Air Force are too busy.
§ Mr. Garro JonesWhat is the nature of the arrangement by which this organisation submits its expenditure to the Air Ministry, by whom is that expenditure checked or audited, and upon what actual Vote in the Air Ministry does it appear?
§ Lieut.-Colonel Moore-BrabazonI must ask for notice of that Question.
§ Mr. ShinwellShould we not be very grateful to American subjects who are prepared to sacrifice themselves in the service of this country?
§ 17. Sir A. Knoxasked the Minister of Aircraft Production what is the salary paid per week to American subjects employed in the Air Transport Auxiliary Force; and how does it compare with the salary paid to British pilots in the same force?
§ Lieut.-Colonel Moore-BrabazonI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given on 2nd July to-the hon. Member for North Aberdeen (Mr. Garro Jones) by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air.
§ Sir A. KnoxIs it fair that these American subjects in the Air Transport Auxiliary should be paid at so much a higher rate than other American subjects who risk their lives in the Eagle squadrons?
§ 19. Mr. Garro Jonesasked the Minister of Aircraft Production upon what conditions and financial terms are Air Transport 1930 Auxiliary Service pilots given advanced training at Royal Air Force flying schools?
§ Lieut.-Colonel Moore-BrabazonThe Air Transport Auxiliary have their own flying training school, but on a few occasions Air Transport Auxiliary pilots have been given conversion courses on new types of aircraft at Royal Air Force flying schools. The cost falls on public funds in any event and, in accordance with the war-time rules governing inter-departmental adjustments, no payment is made to the Air Ministry from the Vote of my Department.
§ Mr. Garro JonesIf facilities are available for the training of civil pilots, why does not this organisation recruit that large number of pilots who received a little less than 50 hours prior to the closing down of the Civil Flying School?
§ Lieut.-Colonel Moore-BrabazonThat is where we get our English pilots from—those who have done about 50 hours' flying. The reason why the Air Force come into the question is that we have not very many of the new types to get our pilots accustomed to them, and they certainly should get accustomed to them if they go over for a short time to the Air Force.
§ Mr. Garro JonesThe right hon. and gallant Gentleman has not quite got my point. Is he aware that pilots who have done less than 50 hours have had no opportunity of completing their training to bring them within the recruiting regulations?
§ Lieut.-Colonel Moore-BrabazonThey will soon be wanted.