asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that a large number of pilots in training in the Royal Air Force in Great Britain are now being given courses in elementary flying-training schools on elementary-type aircraft, notwithstanding that they have already undergone such courses or have previously flown more advanced or Service-type aircraft; and, as a repetition of the same elementary training with non-Service machines constitutes a waste of both time and public money and discourages the personnel involved, he will alter these methods?

I am aware that some pilots have undergone a repetition of elementary training. Difficulties have been met in adjusting whole-time war training to the individual qualifications of those of the large number of pupil entrants who had varying degrees of flying experience acquired in the course of peace-time training. These difficulties are rapidly disappearing.