MP correspondence

Dear Mr Allen,

 Thank you for your prompt response.

 Unfortunately, due to a very strict parliamentary protocol I am unable to assist with your concerns. However, as you say, you are in correspondence with my colleague Mark Spencer. I do appreciate the time you have taken to write to me and let me know your concerns, which I have taken on board. If these topics come up in the Chamber, I will bear them in mind.

 Thank you again for contacting me.

 Yours sincerely, Neil 

Neil Parish

Member of Parliament for Tiverton and Honiton

Neil

 I am not a resident within your constituency, although my formative years were around there!

 For completeness/transparency I live at {address given} and am well known to Mark Spencer.

 I hoped that some of my comments might strike a chord.  I have found that many, including IDS, refer back to the 'bad old days', which does not solve the 'here and now'.

 As with most govt policies, I can see the original problem and applaud the desire to resolve it, but abhor the means that are being used to bulldoze through the final solution, and the significance of those words is not lost on me, as the disabled and infirm feel that they are 4th class citizens.

 I should tell you that I am not affected by BT, although I am disadvantaged by going to an ATOS interview and waiting 16 months for my appeal to be heard.  Mark knows this.

 Thank you for writing to me

---

Dear Mr Allen,

 Thank you for your email regarding the Under Occupancy Penalty.

 I am interested in responding to your concerns, as they could potentially affect a great number of people in my constituency. However, before I do so please could you confirm your address, including your postcode so that I can confirm you a resident of Tiverton and Honiton constituency.

 Thank you, I look forward to hearing from you.

 Yours sincerely, Neil

Dear John

 Thank you very much for your e-mail.

 Whilst Andrew understands your concerns, it is Parliamentary protocol that M.P.s are only able to respond to their own constituents. As you do not live in Andrew's constituency I am afraid that he is unable to assist you.

 Your Member of Parliament is Mark Spencer, M.P. for Sherwood and I am sure that he will be happy to help.  His email address ismark.spencer.mp@parliament.uk

 Best wishes,

Paddy   

Paddy Mullarkey

Parliamentary Assistant

Office of Andrew Rosindell M.P.

Dear Paddy

{Address supplied}

Thanks very much

 John

---

I am at a loss as to why so many intelligent people voted en masse for this penalty.  Did each individual MP research this and consider the implications on those at whom this is targeted?

 People who have lived in their council house for years have their circumstances changed due to death, children leaving and relationship breakups.  But they have memories, most likely have improved the property, invested in gardens and purchased furniture and other items which 'fit' the house.

 You say 'downsize' - did anyone consider the moving costs?  And what about the furniture etc that is now too large to fit in a smaller house?  Not to mention the cost of obtaining smaller items?

 And what about the groups affected - the people with disabled partners whose medical condition dictates that they sleep separately?  The families with children below the age where they qualify for another bedroom.

 Since when was a dining room a bedroom?

 Please tell me how a person 'on benefit' can afford to:

• Sell their oversize furniture
• Move their belongings between properties
• Buy new furniture

 This also affects those who work, often on low wages.

 I appreciate the need to reduce benefit expenditure but there are other ways rather than target the vulnerable and often medically  disadvantaged.  I also appreciate the plight of the homeless and those living with family.

 This, of course, against the background of tax cuts and other help for the rich, is acceptable?

 I question your sense of compassion and fairness.

 This e-mail is concerned with bedroom tax; however, you are hitting people, sometimes the same people, with Work Capability Assessments by people like ATOS who have no inkling about a claimant's past and present medical history [they don't listen anyway when you tell them, the DWP who don't monitor what is happening and are target-driven, and who don't give a damn about claimants and their Appeals [I have been waiting for mine for 15 months].

 If you are a Labour MP, why do you not oppose more policies than you do?  If you are Lib-Dem why support a coalition that has no humanity?  If you are Tory... examine your conscience and consider the impact of what your leaders are doing.

 I recently asserted that those in work didn't care - I received many comments from those in work who do care what is happening to the unemployed and disabled.  The voters will have their say in 2015, hopefully sooner.

 The Conservatives were elected on a ticket of caring for all, including the disabled.  What happened?

 John Allen

Dear John,

 It is still Mr Spenser with whom you should correspond.

 Yours sincerely, Adam

 Adam Chambers Senior Parliamentary Assistant Penny Mordaunt MP, Portsmouth North

 Adam

 i was hoping that, as this is not a particular case [indeed I am not affected by BT] that this was up for debate.

 Yours sincerely

 John 

Dear Mr Allen,

 Thank you for your reply.

 You are quite right, protocol dictates that Members deal with only their own constituents’ cases.

 I imagine that you have already contacted Mark Spenser, but if not I would be happy to forward your correspondence.

 Yours sincerely, Adam