§ Mr. Garro Jonesasked the Minister of Aircraft Production to what extent the A.T.A. flying and ground organisation comes under the control of the Ministry; on what financial terms this organisation performs services for the Royal Air Force; and why the duties performed by the A.T.A., especially flying duties, cannot be performed, as they were formerly, by pilot-officers or sergeant-pilots taken into the Royal Air Force?
§ Mr. MontagueThe Air Transport Auxiliary is administered by my Department which makes use of the British Overseas Airways Corporation as its agent for certain of its activities. The cost of the organisation falls on the Vote of my Ministry. The reason for using civilian personnel, including women, is that Service personnel are thereby released for operational duties and I am enabled to make full use of available man-power in the country by employing on this important work people who for medical or other reasons are unable to join the R.A.F., although they are extremely efficient pilots.