§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, I bee leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements have been made for the training of RAF pilots by civilian training schools, how many pilots are involved, and why the training could not be carried out by the Central Flying School.
301§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, no arrangements have been made for the initial training of RAF pilots by civilian training schools. The Defence Review has reduced the numbers of multi-engined aircraft and the training of new pilots in that role has been temporarily suspended. A small residual requirement for the refresher training of experienced pilots who return to flying after a tour of duty on the ground remains and a one-year contract for this task has recently been let to the College of Air Training, Hamble. About 70 pilots are expected to undergo refresher training under this contract.
The RAF Central Flying School is responsible for the training of flying instructors, the preparation of flying training procedures and the monitoring of training standards. It does not provide for the type of training now being carried out for the RAF at Hamble. Maintenance of a special training organisation for this small task within the RAF would not be economic.
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask whether he is satisfied as to the wisdom of this new move? Would it not have been wiser to extend the capacity of the Central Flying School, which would not have cost very much, thus retaining this multi-engine advance training capability within the Service?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMNo, my Lords. As noble Lords will know, we are in a period of financial stringency. This is one of the many economies the RAF is making in order to maintain its efficiency without overspending.
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, while accepting that there is a need for economic restraint at this time, may I ask whether it is a fact that the Central Flying School could earn a great deal of foreign currency of its own by training the pilots of overseas air forces? Would that not have been possible in this case?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, that is another question.