Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the RAF is solely responsible for training Royal Navy fast jet pilots; and what is their assessment of asking the US Marine Corps to help train Royal Navy pilots at times when RAF training may not be running as intended.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) is not solely responsible for the training of Royal Navy (RN) Fast Jet (FJ) pilots. The UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS), contracted to Ascent, delivers aircrew training of elementary, basic and advanced flying training phases for all three Services, in order to prepare them for their arrival at their designated operational aircraft units.

The RN has maintained a limited programme to train FJ pilots with the United States Navy (not US Marine Corps) to sustain a cadre of maritime FJ pilots following the withdrawal of Joint Force Harrier.