Experts fear the result will be a temporary shortage of airline pilots, which might force airlines to take on the cost of pilot training.

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If there was a temporary shortage, you temporarily paid higher wages.

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So far, 77 companies have qualified for the programme, which is designed to help firms that have solid business prospects, but suffer a temporary shortage of cash.

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But on the subject of professions suffering from shortages, such as nursing, Mr Green said there was "no reason why Britain should have a permanent shortage of nurses" and any use of foreign workers should be temporary.

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