Plymouth Sutton MP Linda Gilroy has begun her placement on the widely respected Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme.

Following at introduction in London from the Royal Navy’s Presentation Team in January, the course began in earnest this month, when Linda travelled to Shrivenham for a weekend crash course in strategic defence thinking at the Joint Services Command & Staff College.

The scheme was established in 1989 by Sir Neil Thorne to give MPs and Peers a greater understanding in the armed forces. Over the course of a year Linda will undertake regular attachments to the Royal Navy, including placements aboard warships, visits to training establishments and meetings with service personnel.

Linda Gilroy said "Through my work on the Defence Select Committee and as a Plymouth MP I deal with defence issues on a daily basis. But the chance to actually see what our sailors do on a day-to-day basis and the challenges they face will be invaluable".

19 February 2007