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You & Your MP
MPs can assist
their constituents in a variety of ways, from making private
enquiries on your behalf, to raising matters publicly in the
House of Commons.
First Steps
Keeping the issue
private, your MP might write to the relevant department or
official, send a letter to the appropriate Minister or make
a personal appointment to discuss the issue.
Although they don’t sound dramatic, these steps can often go
a long way to providing a solution.
Making the Issue Public
Your MP may
decide to make the issue public by raising it in the House
of Commons, where it will be officially recorded, and could
potentially come to the attention of the press and public.
If these options aren’t possible or successful, you may wish
to organise a petition addressed to the House of Commons or
lobby your MP.
Outside Parliament
Outside
Parliament, and at the discretion of the individual MP, you
could request that your MP speak at an event concerning the
issue, pledge their support to a campaign or write to the
local media on your behalf.
When a MP Can’t Help
MPs are often
willing to help their constituents but can’t support every
cause. This may be because:
MP's will only
deal with issues raised by their own constituents and not
with issues raised by constituents of other MP's. This is
because the British parliamentary system is founded on the
principle that one Member represents a single constituency,
and that her or his relations with constituents are very
much a preserve other Members should not interfere with.
Here in Scotland with the assent of the Scotland Act 1998
certain policy matters have been devolved to the Scottish
Parliament and are the sole province of your Member of the
Scottish Parliament.
The table below details the various responsibilities of MP's,
MSP's and local Councillor's.
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MP's |
MSP's |
Councillors |
- The Constitution
- Foreign Affairs
- Defence
- The Civil Service
- Financial and Economic
Matters
- National Security
- Immigration and
Nationality
- Misuse of Drugs
- Trade and Industry
(eg
Competition and Consumer Protection)
- Electricity, coal, oil
and gas, Nuclear energy
- Many Aspects of
Transport
(eg Railways)
- Social Security
- Employment
- Abortion, Genetics,
Surrogacy and Medicines
- Broadcasting and Equal
Opportunities
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-
Social Work Services
- Health services, Local Councils
- Education and Training
- Housing
- Transport
- Sport
- Law and Order
(the police, the courts and lawyers)
- Farming, Fishing and
Forestry
- The Arts
- The Countryside
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- Housing
- Cleansing
- Environmental Health
- Parks
- Libraries
- Education
- Planning
-
Social Work
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Who is my
MSP?
The Paisley and Renfrewshire North Westminster constituency
covers areas of the West Renfrewshire and Paisley North
Scottish Parliamentary constituencies.
 West
Renfrewshire
If you live in Langbank, Bishopton, Bridge of Weir,
Brookfield, Houston, Erskine or Inchinnan your MSP
is Trish Godman.
You can contact Trish by any of the methods below:
Constituency Office:
Trish Godman MSP
Renfrew House
Cottage 27
Quarrier's Village
Bridge of Weir
PA11 3SX
Telephone: 01505 615337
Fax: 01505 690717
E-mail:
trish.godman.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
Website:
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 Paisley
North
If you live in Renfrew, Linwood or the Ralston,
Gallowhill, Shortroods or Ferguslie areas of Paisley
your MSP in Wendy Alexander.
You can contact Wendy by
any of the methods below:
Constituency Office:
Wendy Alexander MSP
Abbey Mill Business Centre
Mile End
12 Seedhill Road
Paisley
PA1 1JS
Telephone: 0141 560 1025
Fax: 0141 560 1026
E-mail:
wendy.alexander.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
WebSite:
http://www.wendyalexandermsp.org.uk/ |
I am always happy
to listen to any issue which relates to the Scottish
Parliament but in the event you require assistance I am
required to pass your case to the relevant MSP.
Who is my Councillor?
To find our who your local Councillor is please contact
Renfrewshire Council on 0141 842 5000 or visit their website
at: http://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/
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