Did Bob Ainsworth forget the RAF?

It is reported that

Government ministers were under fire today after failing to welcome home RAF crews returning at the end of 18 years of operations in Iraq.

Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth had been expected to attend a ceremony at RAF Marham, near King’s Lynn, Norfolk, to mark the conclusion of one of the RAF’s longest deployments.

The Ministry of Defence said earlier this week that Mr Ainsworth would be at Marham to see the return of the last six Tornado fighters stationed in the Gulf.

But Mr Ainsworth did not appear, and base officials said he had been unable to come because of a debate at Westminster.

Mrs Rigby has checked Hansard for today, she cannot find Mrs Ainsworth's name mentioned in any of the debates, so she thinks it looks as if he forgot his responsibilities and somebody had to make excuses on his behalf.

The article says

The RAF has lost 27 crew members between 1991 and 2009 - most killed following the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Sad, isn't it, and a sign of the times that Government Ministers can so conveniently forget those who have been laying their lives on the line for this country, and who have done so following a decision made by this particular government.