Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether there is a shortage of pilots.

As the UK aviation sector operates predominantly in the private sector, it is for individual airlines to train, recruit and retain pilots to meet today’s demand and the demand of the future.

A training organisation has been approved to deliver a first officer apprenticeship, which would provide training completely cost-free to young people. We are working with the Department for Work and Pensions to encourage airlines to deliver this apprenticeship.

Supporting the UK’s aviation workforce is a key priority for this government and I applaud the efforts of British Airways, TUI and Jet2.com to ensure a sustainable pipeline of future pilots by periodically offering partly or fully funded training programmes.