Written question asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 27 June 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 3 July 2003. It was answered by Ivor Caplin (Labour) on Thursday, 3 July 2003 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Answer of 4th June, 406 c452W, how many additional staff have been recruited within university air squadrons in order to provide ground base flying training. - Inc figure.

Answer: Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 4 June 2003, Official Report, column 452W, how many additional staff have been recruited within university air squadrons in order to provide ground base flying training. [123153] Mr. Caplin: Ground branch training for University Air Squadron (UAS) students has, in the past, been provided by the flying instructional staff, with some help from visiting lecturers and branch mentors from nearby RAF stations undertaking such work as a secondary duty. Various studies into UAS training had pointed to the benefits of dedicated ground branch training instructors, in particular to increase the potential for attracting ground branch students. In 1997, such posts were established on each of the 15 UASs but funding was not available. As a result of a further review of the UASs, funding was agreed and the first ground branch training instructor arrived in April 2003; a total of seven are now in place. The overall establishment of ground branch training instructors has been reduced to 14, with a shared instructor for two co-located UASs. It is expected that all the posts will be filled by the end of 2004.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 123153; 408 c449W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Air force Recruitment Universities Training University air squadrons RAF Church Fenton
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk