In the House of Commons there are 651 MPs (Members of Parliament), each representing one area of the country called a constituency. As your MP, I gained the right to represent you and the constituency when I received more votes than any of the other candidates at the last election. It is now my job to work in Parliament on behalf of all the people in the Bracknell constituency – even those who did not vote for me. So, even if you voted for one of the other candidates and you strongly disagree with the views of my political party, I am still your MP, there to help you with all matters for which Parliament or Central Government is responsible.
In broad terms, my responsibilities fall into three main groups: my constituents, Parliament and my political party. My duties in Parliament include participating in debates in the Chamber and Westminster Hall and voting on legislation and other matters. I am also a member of two committees, one examining the work of a government department, the other examining the administration and workings of the Parliamentary Estate. My primary role is, however, to help my constituents by advising on any problems that they might have encountered when dealing with a government department, by representing their concerns in Parliament and by acting as a figurehead for the local area. I usually support my political party by voting with my leadership in the House of Commons and by acting as a representative for the party in the constituency.
How to contact your MP
By letter
The best way to make contact is to write to Dr Lee at the following address:
Dr Phillip Lee MP
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
By Telephone
02072191270
07515419080 (PA)
By E-mail
Dr Lee is only an MP for people living in the Bracknell Constituency. Hence, please check that you are constituent before contacting him. There is a protocol rule in Parliament that a MP should not deal with problems of another MP’s constituents.
What can your MP do to help you?
The main role of a Member of Parliament is to represent local constituents at Parliament in Westminster. In the House of Commons, Dr Lee scrutinises legislation, attends debates and committees, and generally protects, advocates and promotes the interests of Bracknell at a national level. In the constituency, he supports local community groups, publicises local issues and endeavours to help constituents’ resolve any issues they have, by making representations on their behalf and ensuring that their cases are clearly presented. In general, he can help with any issue over which Parliament, a central government department or an agency has responsibility, including the Home Office, Defence and Foreign policy, the Department of Health, the Department of Work and Pensions and HM Revenue and Customs. Unfortunately, he is not able to solve every problem. He cannot obtain preferential treatment for you or seek to get results outside of the relevant laws or rules. Furthermore, he cannot help with
private disputes with other individuals or interfere with court decisions.
Dr Lee can help you with all matters for which Parliament or central government is responsible, such as:
- Tax problems involving the HM Revenue and Customs Department.
- Problems dealt with by the Department for Work and Pensions such as benefits, pensions and National Insurance.
- Problems dealt with by the Home Office, such as immigration.
- Problems dealt with by the Department of Health, such as hospitals and the National Health Service (NHS).
- Problems dealt with by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, such as school closures and grants.
If your problem concerns the council you should – in the first instance – contact the relevant council department or service directly. If this does not resolve the matter, you should then approach your local councillor. Berkshire is served by unitary authorities, two of which cover the Bracknell constituency: Bracknell Forest and Wokingham. They manage the following services:
- Schools
- Adult and Family learning
- Social services
- Strategic planning matters
- Highways
- Refuse and waste disposal sites
- Museums and libraries
- Town planning
- Environmental health
- Street cleaning
- Licensing
- Housing
- Benefits
- Council tax collection
- Refuse collection
- Leisure facilities
- Planning permission and disputes
There are also parish and town councils, which are the most local level of government. They are independent, but work closely with both the MP and both borough councils. If you are unsure of who to go to or you have a problem of a more general nature then your nearest Citizens’ Advice Bureau will be able to guide you. How does your MP deal with problems?
Dr Lee may deal with a constituent’s problem by:
- Writing a letter to the relevant department or official.
- Writing a letter to the Minister involved.
- Making an appointment to see the Minister personally.
Many problems (but not all) can be solved through one of these means. The Minister may not be able to give the answer you want to hear but if the decision has been made in the correct way there may be little that he can do. If you feel there has been unnecessary delay or maladministration, Dr Lee may be able to take your case to the Parliamentary Ombudsman. The Ombudsman can only be approached through Dr Lee; you cannot approach that office directly. The Health Service Ombudsman can provide similar help where the problem involves the NHS.
What else can my MP do?
All the methods covered so far allow your problems to be kept confidential. If Dr Lee is not satisfied with the answers he receives he may raise the issue in the House of Commons in front of the public and press. This can be done through:
- Oral/written questions – Ministers answer questions from MPs at the Dispatch Box during Departmental Question Time but there is a limit to the number of questions that can be asked. Dr Lee may also table a written question to the relevant Government department, the answers to which are published in Hansard.
- Adjournment Debates – Dr Lee may be able to raise your problem in a half-hour Adjournment Debate which is usually the last business of the day. To raise a matter he must be successful in a ballot or have the subject chosen by the Speaker.
- Westminster Hall Debates – A Westminster Hall debate is similar to an adjournment debate but takes place in a large committee room rather than in the main chamber. A Deputy Speaker presides over proceedings and no votes take place.
- Private Member’s Bill – If Dr Lee becomes aware that your problem is a common one he may try to introduce a Private Member’s Bill. This is a Bill put forward by an individual MP, as opposed to a Government Minister. Only a small number of Private Member’s Bills are successful but publicity is drawn to the issue.
- Petition - If you and other people feel very strongly about a certain issue you may decide to organise a petition to the House of Commons. Your petition can only be presented by Dr Lee as your MP and must be arranged in a particular format. You can obtain advice on petitions by writing to:
Clerk of Public Petitions
Journal Office
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
Tours of the Palace of Westminster – visiting the Gallery
As your MP, Dr Lee can issue a limited number of passes to allow constituents to tour the Houses of Parliament or visit the Public Gallery. There is a great deal of demand for these facilities and you are advised to contact his office well in advance – two or three months is not too soon – and be as flexible as possible in choice of dates. Please note that because there are 651 MPs, tickets for Parliament are extremely limited as each individual MP is only allowed only 2 tickets every 6 weeks for Prime Minister’s Question Time.
I hope this information is useful to you. Please contact me if you need further advice.
