asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the large annual wastage of "A" licence pilots because their licences are not renewed, he will adopt an additional method of subsidies to the clubs on hours flown or provide some other means of cheaper training facilities?

This matter is under consideration with a view to reducing the large annual wastage of "A" licence pilots, to which my hon. Friend draws attention, if possible. I should, however, add that the chief object of the Light Aeroplane Club subsidy is to stimulate the training of new pilots, and that the continuance in flying practice of pilots once they have received their initial training, whilst of importance, must be regarded as secondary to this main consideration.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be able to give consideration to this before the Air Estimates?

Certainly. A subcommittee of the Light Aeroplane Association of Clubs have the whole matter under consideration and will furnish a report before very long.

Will the right hon. Gentleman study the Belgian and French systems of subsidy with a view to ascertaining their relative merits in respect of the number of machines and pilots encouraged thereby compared with the corresponding cost to their respective Exchequers?