§ 6. Viscount Cranborneasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation the number of aircraft owned by flying clubs; and the number of hours flown in the last three years.
§ Mr. BeswickOne hundred and eighty, Sir. Complete information is not yet available concerning the number of hours flown.
§ Viscount CranborneIs it not clear that the Government's policy in relation to flying clubs means that we now have far fewer pilots than we would have had under a more enlightened policy?
§ Mr. BeswickThat is not necessarily the conclusion I would draw from figures given in subsequent answers to Questions.
§ 7. Viscount Cranborneasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation the number of flying clubs in the United Kingdom compared with 1939.
§ Mr. BeswickAbout 100, as compared with 75 in 1939.
§ Viscount CranborneWill the Parliamentary Secretary impress upon his right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer the immense importance of encouraging flying clubs?
§ Mr. BeswickI think that the statement I propose to make in a written answer today shows that we appreciate the importance of flying clubs.
§ 8. Viscount Cranborneasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation how many pilots have been trained to "A" licence standard in flying clubs in 1939 and 1949.
§ Mr. BeswickTwo thousand nine hundred and seventy-seven in 1939. Out of the 608 "A" licence holders who qualified in the first quarter of 1949, it is estimated that 240 were trained by flying clubs.