§ 27. Commander Sir Archibald Southbyasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider the introduction of a system which will enable the Fleet Air Arm to train its own pilots on its own stations, in view of the specialised work which these pilots have to do.
§ The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. A. V. Alexander)At the time of the decision to transfer the control of the Fleet Air Arm from the Air Ministry to the Admiralty, it was decided that responsibility for the elementary and intermediate flying training of Naval pilots should remain with the Air Ministry. The Admiralty is, however, responsible for their specialised Naval flying training and this training is carried out at Royal Naval Air Stations and elsewhere as arranged by the Admiralty.
§ Sir A. SouthbyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the present system, although it was satisfactory some time ago, is by no means satisfactory now from the point of view of the pilots themselves in the Fleet Air Arm?
§ Mr. AlexanderI do not think I can accept that statement. It may well be necessary to review the system after the war, but with the present personnel and staff available to us, I do not think a change is practicable during the war.