asked the Secretary of State for Air what representations he has received from the Admiralty on the advisability of unifying Naval Aviation and Royal Air Force Coastal Command under central Admiralty control; and whether he will make a statement.

This matter has not been under examination since the principles governing the operation of shore-based aircraft in naval warfare were reviewed in 1946. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

Is the Secretary of State aware that the 1st May issue of "Aviation Report," a copy of which I sent him, states that the Government are planning a new move to unify naval aviation and the Royal Air Force Coastal Command under central Admiralty control? While having the greatest admiration for and pride in the Royal Navy, may I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman, particularly in view of the excellent operational record of Coastal Command during the last war, if he will give an assurance that the House will have full time to consider any move so serious as this, which may mean the transference of the Royal Air Force Coastal Command to the Royal Navy?

No discussions have been taking place, and no transfer of Coastal Command is contemplated.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentle- man not agree that as Coastal Command was under naval operational control in the war, and is at present quite inadequate and not being looked after properly, it may be handled more sympathetically and with more keenness by the Royal Navy?

No, Sir.

In the last war, did not Coastal Command operate very successfully under the orders of the Royal Navy?

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is sponsoring any further research or construction of aircraft capable of alighting on water, either of the high-speed fighter or the large transport or bomber types.

A project is under consideration for a flying boat to replace the Sunderland for maritime reconnaissance. In addition, as I stated in reply to the hon. Member for Hendon, North (Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewing), on 14th March, it has been decided that the three Princess flying boats should be completed for the Royal Air Force.

Can the Secretary of State say whether his Department is doing any research into the future of very large aircraft which, when they become large enough, may be more economical if they have planing hulls rather than increasingly heavy undercarriages?

I am advised that the project under consideration is for a flying boat powered with four gas turbine engines, twice the weight of the Sunderland and with a much greater speed.

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman say what firms are undertaking this work, or whether it is entirely Departmental research?

asked the Secretary of State for Air what progress he has made in his negotiations for the purchase of North American F86 Sabre jet fighter aircraft for the Royal Air Force.

The question of the supply of F86 aircraft to the Royal Air Force under the Mutual Defence Assistance Programme is still under discussion with the United States Government. I am unable to say when the discussions will be finalised.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman finalise these discussions as fast as he possibly can, because of the present lack of suitable British fighters in the Royal Air Force?

Yes, Sir, but this concerns another Government besides our own.

Does my right hon. and learned Friend's answer mean that the advanced types demonstrated at Hendon last year are not yet in production?

No, Sir. That is quite a different thing.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman finalise his use of the word "finalise"?

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will consider the formation of squadrons of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force based on the large towns and cities of southern Hampshire, such as Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester and Bournemouth.

I regret that it is not possible for me to agree to consider the early formation of additional Royal Auxiliary Air Force Squadrons in southern Hampshire as suggested, since for the time being our resources are fully committed to the major expansion of the front line strength of the Regular Air Force which is now in progress. I will, however, consider this suggestion again when the expansion programme is further advanced.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind that the large cities and towns of southern Hampshire are renowned for their large contributions to our Armed Forces, and will he, as soon as the aircraft supply position permits, take up this subject afresh?

indicated assent.

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will make plans to provide auxiliary squadrons with more, and newer, aircraft during their three months' training period, in view of the fact that the aircraft now being used, having flown many hours in regular squadrons, have a low serviceability, and that this may result in pilots getting inadequate flying time.

Of the 20 auxiliary squadrons, nine will carry out their training on new Vampire 5's. While the remaining 11 have been re-equipped with jet aircraft previously used by Regular squadrons, I am advised that such aircraft do not have a low serviceability. Everything possible is being done to ensure that auxiliary pilots will be able to get in, sufficient flying time to derive full advantage from the operational training which they will receive during their period of call-up.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman not aware that some of the squadrons equipped with aircraft which have already been used by the Regular squadrons have only two aircraft serviceable at the end of a week-end's flying? Is he making plans to provide these extra 11 auxiliary squadrons with new aircraft so that there is a higher serviceability record and, therefore, more training done?

I should like, first, to establish the facts. If the hon. Member will be good enough to give me the names of the squadrons he has in mind. I will certainly look into his suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Air what plans the Government has for creating a source of women pilots for duties as flying instructors and in the Air Transport Auxiliary, in view of the fact that private flying sources have now virtually dried up.

A flying branch has been created in the Women's Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve to provide a reserve of women pilots for communication flying and for staff pilot appointments at certain training establishments and for employment on ferrying duties, if required. Many former members of the Air Trans- port Auxiliary have joined but there are still vacancies and any woman under 30 who has a private pilot's licence can apply.

Would the right hon. and learned Gentleman not agree that the object of this Question is to find a new source of women pilots as the present source is now drying up? Could he suggest a Government measure by which the could assist flying clubs and thus help the cause of private people learning to fly? If something is not done in that-direction, he will have no recruits, as he himself has said that they must have a pilot's certificate before they are eligible for this reserve.

As the hon. Gentleknows, it was announced more than a year ago that we were reducing the standard from 100 hours to 30 hours, and I think that should have been of considerable assistance to those seeking to become pilots.

Is the drying up of the source of women pilots due to the narrowness of the bottleneck?

asked the Secretary of State for Air what steps are being taken to provide a more advanced type of aircraft to bridge the training gap between the Chipmunks and the operational jets which volunteer reserve pilots will be required to fly, if mobilised.

Pilots of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve called up for three months' training will fly Harvards and Spitfires before going on to Vampires. For normal training purposes it is hoped shortly to introduce into Reserve Flying Schools the Prentice, which will provide more advanced training than the Chipmunk. Those Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve pilots, however, who have not had three months' training and who have only been able to train on Chipmunks would, on mobilisation, receive further training as necessary before flying operational jet aircraft.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman satisfied that he has sufficient aircraft to train sufficient pilots for this Reserve, because we may not have time to convert these pilots whose only experience is on Chipmunks into operational pilots in an emergency?

It is not only a question of aircraft but of training capacity generally. As the hon. Member knows, we have authority to ask for up to 1,000 R.A.F. V.R. pilots to undergo three months' training this year. Frankly, however, our capacity would not permit of us taking the whole 1,000 at one time. We have to stagger them at about 150 for each period.