HC Deb 24 January 1951 vol 483 cc115-6
16. Commander Noble

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the present shortage of pilots in the Air Branch; and what steps he is taking to remedy this.

Mr. Callaghan

The present deficiency of pilots is being remedied in the following ways. Basic pay and flying pay has been increased, and for short service officers an increased gratuity is payable on leaving the Service. Schemes for ensuring civil employment on leaving the Navy are in operation or are being worked out. Permanent commissions are given to extended service officers, and the ages of entry to short service commissions widened. An offer has been made to former naval pilots to re-enter for four years. National Service men may be trained to fly, and publicity has been intensified.

Commander Noble

Is it too early yet for the hon. Gentleman to say whether there have been any satisfactory results from all these steps?

Mr. Callaghan

I cannot give any figures yet.

Mr. J. P. L. Thomas

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us what the effect has been on recruiting for flying duties of the granting in September of flying pay?

Mr. Callaghan

I think it would be dangerous to give any indication of longterm trends so far.

Mr. J. Langford-Holt

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the offer of four years re-entry is not popular in the Air Branch of the Navy? Is he further aware that the system of promising an extension of the permanent commissions, which does not ultimately materialise, does not provide the pilots who are required?

Mr. Callaghan

So far as the first point is concerned, if the hon. Gentleman will let me know why, I shall be glad to look at the scheme again. So far as the second point is concerned, I do not think that the Navy can bind itself to offering permanent commissions to everybody who serves on extended service.