Falklands : Parliamentarians Visit the Falklands
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 31.08.2006 (Article Archived on 14.09.2006)
Four MPs have visited the Falklands and have spent time aboard HMS Chatham.
Photo (c) J. Brock (FINN) Four MPs and an analyst were guests of the MOD between 21 and 26 August.
PARLIAMENTARIANS VISIT THE FALKLANDS
From Left to right, Mr. John Bradbury, Mr. Ed Vazey (Cons), Mr Tobias Ellwood (Cons), Mr. Nigel Evand (Cons) and Mr.David Wiltshire (Cons).
By J. Brock (FINN)
Four Conservative Members of the House of Commons visited the Falklands from 21 to 26 August as part of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (AFPS). The party included Mr. John Bradbury, from Defence Analytical Services Agency for the Ministry of Defence, Mr. David Wiltshire, Conservative, Spelthorne, Mr. Tobias Ellwood, Conservative, Opposition whip, Bournmouth East, Mr. Nigel Evans, Conservative, Ribble Valley and Mr. Ed Viazey, Conservative, Wantage. Wantage is where Howard and Carolina Pearce settled after leaving the Falklands.
On 25 August the party visited Stanley to see Her Honour the Acting Governor Miss Harriet Hall at Government House, attend an FIG briefing at the Chamber of Commerce Function Room, have a buffet lunch at the Brasserie, visit the Museum and inspect a contingent of Sea and Marine Cadets at T/S Endurance. They also had time for shopping and meeting the press.
At the press conference, Mr. Nigel Evans explained that this was his second trip to the Falklands and that he wanted to come more often. All MPS explained aspects of the scheme. Mr. John Wiltshire MP explained that they were seconded to the Royal Navy and spent time aboard ship to see how the Royal Navy operates and to speak with crew members on HMS Chatham. Mr. Vaizey explained that he was happy that it was a joint services operation so he could see first hand how the three services co-operated. Mr. Tobias Ellwood, thinking outside of the box, thought the Falklands should have a ministerial form of Government. Mr. Ellwood was in the Royal Green Jackets and would have come to the Falklands but was posted to Gibraltar instead.
As each MP spoke, they explained that in the scheme Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords volunteer to spend a fixed number of days during one year on detachment with a branch of the Armed Forces (the Royal Navy, the Army, the RAF or the Royal Marines). Under-Graduate members must spend at least 22 days with their chosen Service, while Post-Graduate and Advanced Post-Graduate members must devote 18 days to the scheme.
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Mr. Evans explained that the aims of the scheme are to give MPs and Peers, the vast majority of whom have no experience of the services, an insight into Forces life that would not otherwise be available to them. It is then hoped that they will be able to make a more informed and useful contribution to defence debates in the House of Commons. AFPS has proved to be a very valuable tool in raising Parliamentary awareness and understanding of the Armed Forces, and it has enjoyed many positive comments within the House.
The scheme is extremely well regarded by Ministers, and its support at the highest levels of Government and the Armed Forces is important to its continued success. The scheme also continues to receive the full support of the Chiefs of Staff in the British bases at home and overseas.
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