§ Mr. Perkinsasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that his recent proposal to transfer from British Overseas Airways certain main trunk routes has caused ill-feeling among the pilots of British Overseas Airways; and whether he is completely satisfied that the civil pilots were capable of continuing to run these trunk routes as in the past?
§ Sir A. SinclairThe routes to be operated by the Corporation and Transport Command respectively have not, in fact, been finally determined. They may, of course, vary from time to time and while it may be expedient to transfer the operation of some routes from the Corporation to the Royal Air Force, the reverse may also apply. The governing considerations are explained in the recent White Paper. These should make it clear that the transfer of a service from the Corporation to the Royal Air Force, if it occurs, will in no way reflect on the capabilities of the Corporation's pilots, for whose courage and efficiency I have nothing but the highest praise.