HC Deb 14 July 1966 vol 731 cc1709-10
45. Sir A. V. Harvey

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to increase the number of civil air pilots available for British airlines.

Mr. Mason

The recruitment and training of civil air pilots for British airlines is primarily the responsibility of the prospective employer. The Government contribute, however, up to 25 per cent. of the cost of training properly selected students at one of the courses approved by my Department. In addition my Department is in consultation with the various interests concerned with a view to increasing the supply.

Sir A. V. Harvey

In wishing the right hon. Gentleman well in dealing with these important matters, may I ask whether he is aware that the first part of his Answer is highly unsatisfactory, that B.O.A.C. is now working with 60 pilots below its normal strength and that a number of pilots are volunteering to go to American airlines? Will he do all he can to put this important matter right, since he has the overall responsibility and cannot get rid of it to the employers?

Mr. Mason

There is a world shortage of pilots and many foreign airlines are advertising in Britain for pilots. I assure the hon. Gentleman that we are in consultation with the airlines, the training organisations and the pilots associations to estimate the total requirement for pilots particularly in the next five or so years and to examine the extent to which the existing training facilities need to be augmented. Training is just as important as anything else.

Sir Ian Orr-Ewing

Would the hon. Gentleman make sure that ex-Service pilots from the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm are given adequate seniority when they try to join the airlines, remembering that otherwise their experience and the investment which has been made in their training will count for nought, particularly since the present two years' seniority is not commensurate with their experience?

Mr. Mason

That is one of the problems we must consider. The R.A.F. and R.N. supply of pilots has drained away and we are now having to recruit and train right from the beginning.