Honours Committee nominations for peerages, which are created directly by the monarch. Honours Committee The Honours Committee is a committee within the Cabinet Office of the Government of the United Kingdom formed to review nominations for national honours for merit, exceptional achievement or service. Twice yearly the Honours Committee submits formal recommendations for the British monarch's New Years and Birthday Honours. Members of the Honours Committee—which comprises a main committee and nine subcommittees in speciality areas—research and vet nominations for national awards, including knighthoods and the Order of the British Empire. The honours system is an ancient one, particularly in Britain; Æthelstan,
UK Military Flying Training System Martin. The 25-year PFI contract, to outsource training of military pilots and air crew of all three UK armed forces to the private sector, was valued at £6 billion. The system was expected to be fully operational by 2012. The MoD reported, in 2008, that the proposed UKMFTS would deliver a coherent, flexible and integrated flying training capability catering for the needs of the Royal Navy, RAF and AAC. The system was judged, at the time, to be at risk of being unable to deliver the required quantity and quality of aircrew to meet the input standard for the operational