Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme

The Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme gives MPs (and members of the House of Lords) the opportunity to gain a first-hand insight into military life. Parliamentarians on the scheme visit a wide variety of establishments in the service to which they are attached, meeting personnel of all ranks to learn about the realities of serving in His Majesty's Armed Forces. The aim is to enable MPs to make a more informed and useful contribution to defence debates in the House of Commons. 

Rob is a member of the AFPS RAF programme for 2020 to 2022 and has visited numerous bases including RAF Halton (in his own constituency, where recruits' basic training takes place), RAF Marham (home to the F35) , RAF Coningsby (Quick Reaction Alert Station) and RAF Honington (the RAF Regiment), as well as participating in military skills training at Battlesbury Barracks. 

News

Rob attends DSEI defence and security show

A fascinating day at DSEI defence and security show with the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. After spending time with Royal Navy and Royal Air Force my focus this year is UKStratCom.

Rob visits Gibraltar with the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme

I have just spent two valuable days visiting British Forces in Gibraltar with the cross-party Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. Under UK Strategic Command, our soldiers, sailors and aviators play a vital role both defending Gibraltar and supporting action elsewhere in the world.

Rob visits RNAS Culdrose

The news this week of Russian ships snooping around UK offshore windfarms and undersea cables is a vivid reminder that other countries are determined to harm us, and that we must always be ready and able to defend our national interest.

Rob visits HMS Queen Elizabeth

It was a privilege to visit aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, the flagship of the Royal Navy, in Portsmouth today, as part of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme.

Rob visits the Falkland Islands

While Parliament was in recess, I've been in the Falkland Islands with cross-party members of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme.

Rob visits HM Naval Base Clyde

With cross-party members of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, I've spent the past two days at HM Naval Base Clyde - home to the core of the Submarine Service, including the Vanguard-class independent strategic nuclear deterrent & the new generation Astute-class hunter-killer submarines.

Rob visits Royal Marines in Plymouth

We only need to see events in Ukraine, the South China Sea and parts of the Middle East to know that as the world becomes ever more dangerous, our armed forces become all the more essential.