The Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme(AFPS) offers Members of Parliament and Peers experience of the United Kingdom's armed forces.[1] The Scheme runs annually and gives an insight into military life for all three Armed Services, Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.[2] The minimum commitment is 15 days over a 12-month course.[3] Its aim is to improve the quality of debate on military issues by exposing its members to first-hand experience of the service.[1]
The AFPS is administered from within Parliament under the chairmanship of James Gray and one full-time employee.[3] The Scheme is endorsed by the Ministry of Defence with a staff officer from each of the three single Services.[1]
Since 2013,[5] the Armed Forces Parliamentary Trust is the overarching body that provides governance in the form of a board of trustees and financial support is provided from industry.[3] The trust is registered with The Charities Commission.[2] It is chaired by James Gray MP[3] and trustees include John Gardner, Baroness Hodgson of Abinger CBE, Sir Bill Jeffrey KCB, Air Vice-Marshal Honourable David Murray CVO OBE, The Lord Rogan, The Right Honourable Colonel Robert Stewart DSO MP, William Thomas Tew and Sir Neil Thorne OBE TD DL.[6]
The Astute class is the latest class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines (SSNs) in service with the Royal Navy. The boats are being constructed by BAE Systems Submarines at Barrow-in-Furness. Seven boats will be constructed: the first of class, Astute, was launched by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in 2007, commissioned in 2010, and declared fully operational in May 2014. The Astute class is the replacement for the Trafalgar-class fleet submarines in Royal Navy service.
Edwin Duncan Sandys, Baron Duncan-Sandys, was a British politician and minister in successive Conservative governments in the 1950s and 1960s. He was a son-in-law of Winston Churchill and played a key role in promoting European unity after World War II.
James Gray, is a British politician who has served as the Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for North Wiltshire since 1997.
The Industry and Parliament Trust (IPT) is a charity that works to promote the mutual understanding of Parliament and business. It works within the Parliament of the United Kingdom and organisations from all sectors of industry. It is non-partisan, non-lobbying and not-for-profit.
Colonel 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.
British United Shoe Machinery (BUSM) Ltd. with head office in Belgrave, Leicester, England, was formed around the turn of the 20th century as a subsidiary of United Shoe Machinery Company of the US, becoming part of a group which for most of the 20th century was the world's largest manufacturer of footwear machinery and materials, exporting shoe machinery to more than 50 countries. After two takeovers and a BUSM-based management buyout the USM group became headquartered in Leicester until entering administration in 2000.
The aerospace industry of the United Kingdom is the second-largest national aerospace industry in the world and the largest in Europe, with a global market share of 17% in 2019. In 2013, the industry employed 84,000 people.
The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals (WCoSP) is the 108th Livery Company of the City of London. It is a non-profit making organisation providing education and health services to members of the security profession.
Graham Thomas Evans is a former British Conservative Party politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Weaver Vale in Cheshire from 2010 until 2017.
Mark Andrew Menzies is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Fylde in Lancashire since 2010. He was formerly PPS to Charles Hendry MP, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change before both men were moved in the 2012 Cabinet Reshuffle. He resigned as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Alan Duncan MP, International Development Minister, in March 2014.
ADS Group Limited, informally known as ADS, is the trade organisation representing the aerospace, defence, security and space industries in the United Kingdom. It has more than 1,000 member companies across its sectors, including some of the UK's largest manufacturers, like Airbus, Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, Meggitt PLC and GKN.
The 2014 Birthday Honours were appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as part of the Queen's Official Birthday celebrations during the month of June. The Queen's Birthday Honours were announced on 14 June 2014 in the United Kingdom, on 9 June 2014 in Australia, on 2 June 2014 in New Zealand, on 14 June 2014 in Grenada, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia and Belize.
The King's Birthday Honours 1950 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of King George VI to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The appointments were made to celebrate the official birthday of the King, and were published in supplements to the London Gazette of 2 June 1950 for the British Empire, Australia, Ceylon and New Zealand.
The 1945 New Year Honours were appointments by many of the Commonwealth realms of King George VI to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. They were announced on 1 January 1945 for the British Empire, Canada, and the Union of South Africa to celebrate the past year and mark the beginning of 1945.
The 1983 Dissolution Honours List was gazetted on 21 July 1983 following the advice of the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.
Alan Mak is a British Conservative Party politician who served Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury from 8th July 2022 until 7 September 2022. He was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Havant in Hampshire in 2015.
The February 1974 Dissolution Honours List was issued on 2 April 1974 following the dissolution of the United Kingdom parliament in preparation for a general election.
The 1945 Dissolution Honours List was issued on 7 June to mark the dissolution of the United Kingdom parliament prior to the 1945 general election.
Robert Butler is a British Conservative Party politician who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Aylesbury since the 2019 general election. He has been serving as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Prisons and Probations since September 2022.
As part of the British honours system, Special Honours are issued at the Monarch's pleasure at any given time. The Special Honours refer to the awards made within royal prerogative, operational honours and other honours awarded outside the New Years Honours and Birthday Honours.
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