Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Written Statement of 10 March 2016, WS605, what impact assessment his Department carried out on its decision to disband air cadet gliding squadrons in Scotland before making that decision; and what assessment he has made of the effect of that decision on future RAF recruitment.

Across the UK, full consideration was given to the value of training opportunities, the revised geographic laydown and future volunteer opportunities for affected Volunteer Gliding Squadron (VGS) personnel.

Cadets from all Scottish cadet units will still have the opportunity to fly gliders, with an enlarged 661 VGS providing a regional hub. We also plan to increase Air Experience Flight fixed wing flying opportunities in Scotland in due course. The reorganisation of air cadet gliding will provide air cadets with a better overall opportunity, with the emphasis moving from air experience to flying training. It is anticipated that 661 VGS will remain at Kirknewton, although I cannot confirm this until the Ministry of Defence estate rationalisation concludes later in the year.

The reduced VGS footprint will allow resources to be focused on the remaining Squadrons. This will enable more suitable infrastructure to be built and maintained that supports the Air Cadet Organisation more fully. The key development across the estate over time will be to provide new overnight accommodation and training facilities that safely allows cadets and adult instructors over full residential weekends to carry out gliding alongside flying related ground training, improving access to both activities for those that are located further from VGS sites.

Volunteers at affected VGSs will be offered opportunities to fill other posts within the Air Cadet Organisation dependent upon their own transferable skills and their personal preferences.

The Air Cadet Organisation as a National Youth Organisation is not designed to be a recruiting institution for the RAF however it assists in aviation awareness and a proportion of military recruits are former air cadets. The resumption of gliding will support the regrowth of Air Cadet numbers and the reorganisation of the Flying Training offer will continue to provide an enhanced opportunity to our cadets. We therefore do not foresee any change in the proportion of RAF recruits that have enjoyed the opportunities that the Air Cadet Organisation offers.