HC Deb 15 July 1980 vol 988 cc1208-9
2. Mr. Bill Walker

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the gliding instructor's badge is not included in the list of official Royal Air Force flying badges.

The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Air Force (Mr. Geoffrey Pattie)

Official Royal Air Force flying badges denote qualifications and skills which are directly related to the operational role of the Royal Air Force. They are sparingly issued and generally involve long and arduous training. The gliding instructor's badge is an Air Training Corps qualification which, important as it is in its own right, does not fall into this category. This implies no lack of appreciation of the efforts of those members of the Royal Air Force and Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who devote a great deal of their spare time to becoming qualified gliding instructors and to furthering the work of the Air Training Corps.

Mr. Walker

I thank my hon. Friend for that clear explanation. Will he consider reviewing the situation that now exists, where RAF flying badges can be worn on the pullovers of Regular and Reserve officers whereas the air cadet gliding instructor badge cannot be so worn? This would go a long way towards removing the difficulties that exist over this badge.

Mr. Pattie

As my hon. Friend knows, the new regulations concerning the heavy duty jersey came into effect only on 1 May. After we have seen how they have worked for a little longer, I shall look at this matter again.