§ Captain GARRO-JONESasked the Secretary of State for Air whether, seeing that his agreement to subsidise the National Flying Services, Limited, in respect of each pilot trained contains no other condition than that the company either itself or by the aid of municipal authorities should provide a certain number of landing grounds, in view of the wide scope planned for this company's activities, he has retained any voice in framing its policy and administration?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe answer is in the negative. The essence of the scheme is that it is one of payment by results, and it must be left to the company to decide without Government interference the nature of the policy and administration which will lead to those results.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESasked the Secretary of State for Air whether before entering into an agreement to pay a subsidy exclusively to the new company, the National Flying Services, Limited, he took consultation with accredited representatives either of light aeroplane clubs or of existing commercial enterprises other than Imperial Airways or of the aircraft industry?
§ Sir S. HOAREThere has been no undertaking to make payments exclusively to the new company, nor could there be, since payments to the light aeroplane clubs will continue under existing agreements. I have throughout been well aware of the points in which the scheme might affect, or be thought to affect, other interests, and there was therefore no necessity for prior consultation. I may add, however, that at a subsequent stage I consented to receive, and did in fact receive, a deputation from the only interests who applied to me for an opportunity for discussing the scheme with a view to the elucidation 1799W of certain points as to which they expressed themselves as in doubt.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESasked the Secretary of State for Air whether the subsidy promised to National Flying Services, Limited, in respect of each pilot trained by them will be payable a second time in respect of a pilot who requalifies after the lapse of his certificate and whether it is proposed to pay the subsidy in respect of pilots who originally qualified at a light aeroplane club and who, after a lapse, requalify under the subsidised company's instruction?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative, subject to the fulfilment of the general terms of the agreement, which are not yet finally settled, regarding past or present service in the Air Force, etc. I would draw the hon. and gallant Member's attention to the fact that, as explained in the White Paper recently laid (Cmd. 3264), the proposed agreement with National Flying Services will provide only for flat rate grants (1) of £10 per annum during the first three years and (2) of £5 per annum for the next seven years in respect of each club member who qualifies for the issue or renewal of a pilot's licence, i.e., there is no special differential rate payable on first qualification. The agreements with the light aeroplane clubs, on the other hand, provide for an initial payment of £50 for each club member on first qualification and a subsequent licence grant of £10 annually for each such member who continues to hold a pilot's licence, in addition to a payment of £1 10s. in respect of each hour's flying, up to an annual maximum of 20 hours, i.e., £30.