HC Deb 10 November 1948 vol 457 cc1525-7
10. Mr. George Ward

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will reduce the number of solo flying hours required by Air Ministry Pamphlet 236 for eligibility for the W.A.A.F./V.R., Flying, from 100 to 60 in view of the high cost of club flying and the present lack of private flying facilities.

Mr. de Freitas

My right hon. Friend is considering this point.

Mr. Ward

In considering this matter, will the Minister bear in mind two important factors—first, that the average cost of club flying today is about £3 an hour, and, particularly, that very few of these girls can afford the £300 to qualify; and, secondly, as I am sure most flying instructors will agree, that pilots who have done 60 hours solo flying in the elementary stages are perfectly capable of going on to more advanced flying?

Mr. de Freitas

From my own experience of flying clubs; I know how expensive it is, and that point will be taken into consideration, as well as the other point which the hon. Member has made.

13 Mr. Cobb

asked the Secretary of State for Air how many applicants have come forward since 1st January, 1948, for commissions in the W.A.A.F.; whether these are sufficient to meet requirements; and what further steps are being taken to stimulate recruiting.

Mr. de Freitas

Three hundred and twenty-one. This is less than we need, but the field in which commissions can be granted has now been extended, and. when the new conditions of service are announced, I expect applications to increase.

Mr. Cobb

Does not my hon. Friend expect that these applications would increase much more if the difference in pay between a sergeant, at 84s. a week, and a junior officer, at about 54s. 10d. a week, was rectified?

Mr. de Freitas

My hon. Friend made a mistake there. If a senior N.C.O. is commissioned and her pay as an N.C.O. was greater than her pay as a junior officer, she gets her former pay—the higher of the two—plus ls. a day.

14 Mr. Cobb

asked the Secretary of State for Air what figure he estimates the average living expenses, including clothing and mess bills, necessarily incurred by W.A.A.F. assistant section officers.

Mr. de Freitas

Apart from messing, expenses vary widely according to personal tastes and circumstances, and there is no agreement as to what is necessary and what is not. I am sorry to say, therefore, that I cannot give an estimate.

Mr. Cobb

Does not my hon. Friend think that a fair figure for messing and clothing would be about 45s., and that, if that amount is deducted from the pay of 54s. 10d. of a junior officer, she has only pocket money left? Does he not think that this matter requires investigation?

Mr. de Freitas

I would not agree with the figures which my lion. Friend has given. The extra messing is about ls. a day, and the monthly messing subscription is never more than half a day's pay.