Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme
Encyclopedia
The Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, abbreviated to AFPS, is a privately-run programme to give Member of Parliament
in the United Kingdom
experience of the armed forces
. Its aim is to improve the quality of debate on military issues, and does this by exposing its members to first-hand experience of the service.
It was founded in 1989 by Sir Neil Thorne
, a former Conservative
MP, for the benefit of members of both houses of Parliament
and those of all parties. It is sponsored by three defence companies — BAE Systems
, Rolls-Royce
, and AgustaWestland
— which each contribute £45,000 a year.
In 2008, Conservative MP Douglas Carswell
was banned from the organisation after criticising the propriety of defence companies sponsoring it when he saw British soldiers under-equipped on the front line, prompting questions about the programme's independence. Sixteen MPs graduated from the AFPS in 2010, and fifteen in 2009. MPs that participate in the AFPS for a long time can receive medals and honorary titles.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
experience of the armed forces
Armed forces
The armed forces of a country are its government-sponsored defense, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body, and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external aggressors. In some countries paramilitary...
. Its aim is to improve the quality of debate on military issues, and does this by exposing its members to first-hand experience of the service.
It was founded in 1989 by Sir Neil Thorne
Neil Thorne
Sir Neil Gordon Thorne is a British Conservative Party politician. He contested the constituency of Ilford South six times from October 1974 to 1997, and was the Member of Parliament for the seat from 1979 to 1992, when he lost by 402 votes to Labour's Mike Gapes.In 1989, Thorne founded the Armed...
, a former Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MP, for the benefit of members of both houses of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
and those of all parties. It is sponsored by three defence companies — BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
, Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce plc
Rolls-Royce Group plc is a global power systems company headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second-largest maker of aircraft engines , and also has major businesses in the marine propulsion and energy sectors. Through its defence-related activities...
, and AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland is an Anglo-Italian helicopter design and manufacturing company. It was formed in July 2000 when Finmeccanica S.p.A. and GKN plc agreed to merge their respective helicopter subsidiaries to form AgustaWestland with Finmeccanica and GKN each holding a 50% share.AgustaWestland is now a...
— which each contribute £45,000 a year.
In 2008, Conservative MP Douglas Carswell
Douglas Carswell
John Douglas Wilson Carswell is a British Conservative Party politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Clacton, having been first elected as MP for Harwich in 2005....
was banned from the organisation after criticising the propriety of defence companies sponsoring it when he saw British soldiers under-equipped on the front line, prompting questions about the programme's independence. Sixteen MPs graduated from the AFPS in 2010, and fifteen in 2009. MPs that participate in the AFPS for a long time can receive medals and honorary titles.