§ 30 and 31. Commander Sir Archibald Southbyasked the First Lord of the Admiralty (r) whether he is satisfied that the syllabus of training of the Air Training Corps is suitable for young men desirous of joining the Fleet Air Arm;
(2) the percentage of those who join for air-crew duty with the Fleet Air Arm who are ex-Air Training Corps cadets; and the percentage of these ex-cadets who are proficient?
Mr. AlexanderEx-Air Training Corps cadets have on recent figures amounted to 48 per cent. of the total of those joining the Fleet Air Arm for air-crew duties. While no proficiency tests of ex-cadets are given which would enable quantitative estimates to be made, general experience shows that Air Training Corps training confers a noticeable advantage upon those who have undergone it, both from the professional and the disciplinary standpoints.
§ Sir A. SouthbyWill my right hon. Friend consider the desirability of making arrangements for sea cadets to receive training and instruction at fighter stations belonging to the Fleet Air Arm, wherever that is possible and convenient?
Mr. AlexanderI will have that point looked into, but a good deal of co-operation exists between the two Corps.