FAQs

This is my frequently asked question section. Here you will find my answers to questions that people ask me the most.

HOW CAN YOU HELP ME?

As well as voting on legislation and being active in the House of Commons, I deal with a host of constituency issues. Due to Parliamentary protocol I am only able to deal with my own constituents, however I will help every constituent to the best of my ability whatever their political persuasion.  You can find out if I am your MP by either ringing the House of Commons Information Office on 020 7219 4272 or visiting the Constituency Locata website by clicking here.

I am best able to help in cases where Parliament or central government is responsible, such as tax problems, pensions and benefits, immigration, etc. It is important for constituents to realise that I cannot offer legal advice in a specific case.

I can also make sure that constituency matters are raised with the relevant Government Ministers.

While I wish I could resolve every issue a constituent brings to my attention this is unfortunately not possible. For your grievance to be redressed, a change in the law may be required. This is not something that I can guarantee to deliver. A majority of MPs or the public may oppose the change required.

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH MY PROBLEMS?

Much of my work is done my correspondence to various agencies (such as the United Kingdom Border Agency), government ministers (such as the Secretary of State for Transport) or local authorities (such as Aylesbury Vale District Council).  These correspondence will raise the concerns expressed by constituents and ask the relevant official, councillor or Minister for their comments. Once this response is received I will make a decision on how best I can be of any further assistance if required.

HOW CAN I LOBBY YOU? 

You do not need to go to the House of Commons to lobby me, you can email me or come to one of my constituency surgeries (through making an appointment). The surgeries are usually held at 100 Walton Street, Aylesbury. (Telephone 01296 482102).

If you and other people feel strongly about a certain issue, you may decide to organise a petition to the House of Commons. Your petition can only be presented by an MP and must be arranged in a particular format. You can obtain advice on this by writing to the:

Clerk of Public Petitions
Journal Office
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

Alternatively further information is available by clicking here.

As a member of the Government I am only able to present petitions in my role as the Member of Parliament for Aylesbury and not in my role as Minister for Europe. I must also bear in mind the contents of any petition in relation to the ministerial code.

HOW CAN I VISIT PARLIAMENT?

If you would like to visit Parliament for a tour or to listen to a debate, please contact my Commons office on 020 7219 3432. Full tours of Parliament only take place when the House is not sitting, which is on Monday mornings until about midday and on Friday afternoons. Partial tours, which do not include the areas used by MPs and Lords, are available for the rest of the week.

When Parliament is in recess, tour arrangements are different. During August, most tours cannot be booked through an MP, and tickets must be bought from the House of Commons Ticket Office.

Further information on tours of Parliament can be found here

Tours of the Clock Tower are also available and further information on these can be found here, please note that arrangements for tours of the Clock Tower are different to those for tours of Parliament itself. These yours are extremely popular and therefore early booking is advised.

WHAT IS AN MP PAID?

An MP’s annual salary is currently £65,738. Government Ministers, the Speaker and his deputies and the Leader of the Opposition (but not Opposition spokesmen) receive additional salaries for those offices. Chairmen of committees receive an addition to their parliamentary salary.

On 24 May 2011, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) was made responsible for determining MPs’ pay and setting the level of any increase in their salary

There is also a contributory pension scheme for Members of the House of Commons to which MPs can contribute 11.9%, 7.9% or 5.9% of their parliamentary salary.

 

HOW DOES THE EXPENSES SYSTEM WORK?

Since the 2010 General Election IPSA has also been responsible for the regulation and payment of expenses to Members of the House of Commons. These expenses are designed to cover the cost of running my office, paying my staff and any travel costs associated with being the MP for Aylesbury.

The IPSA website includes a searchable database of MPs’ expenses on their website. Records of expenses date from 2010/11 onwards. To view my expenses claims please click here.

To view my expenses claims from before 2010/11 please click here.