Please note that when you do decide you need to come and see me, I will need written permission to help progress your case. This should include a statement which explains what the problem is, what you want me to do to help, and an authority given to me, as your MP, to make representations on behalf of you.

Without this statement, because of data protection issues, I will not be able to make any progress on your case.

Please also note the following advice from the Parliament website.

Everyone has the right to contact their local MP to discuss issues affecting them but there are specific areas they can deal with. MPs will generally only act on behalf of their constituents, so please check you are contacting the MP who represents your constituency.

When you should contact your local MP

MPs are more able to help you with issues that Parliament or government are responsible for, such as:

• Tax (but not council tax as this is set and paid to your local authority).
• Hospitals and the National Health Service (not local social services).
• Benefits, pensions, national insurance.
• Immigration.
• School closures and grants (not day-to-day school problems like governors or the local education authority).

When you should contact someone else first

Some issues are not the direct responsibility of Parliament or government. In these instances, you should first contact either your local council or your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau before considering contacting your MP.

These are issues such as:

• Council tax.
• Private problems with neighbours, landlords, employers, family; or companies who've sold you faulty goods.
• Decisions made by the courts.
• Issues that are the responsibility of your local council, ie, dustbins, housing or street repairs.

To find out who your local councillor is, please click here and enter your postcode.