asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much university air squadrons received from public funds last year; how many people who had air experience with them joined the Royal Air Force last year; and what proportion of current fully qualified Royal Air Force pilots have had such experience. [HL5454]

In financial year 2007-08 the university air squadrons received £10.870 million from the Royal Air Force.

In the last academic year, 2 September 2007 to 27 July 2008, 133 individuals who had received air experience with the university air squadron joined the RAF.

The proportion of current fully qualified RAF pilots who have received university air squadron experience is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.