| Contract with Constituents
To underpin the work
he carries out on behalf of the people he represents, Dan has drawn up
a contract with constituents. "All I ask in return is that my
staff are treated at all times with courtesy," he says.
- Dan is available
to be contacted in a variety of ways
- for example by letter, telephone, email, text and face-to-face at
surgeries, coffee events, and when he goes door-to-door
- Dan replies to
all letters, emails and texts from constituents who raise a concern
or problem, and tries to secure a speedy response
- Dan holds regular
twice weekly constituency surgeries
in various parts of his large semi-rural constituency. October 2007
marked the one thousandth surgery he has held since becoming MP in 1997
- Dan holds regular
telephone surgeries to help cater
for people who are unable to come to one of his face-to-face surgeries.
Where needed, home appointments can be arranged
- Dan produces regular
newsletters and other literature to supplement this website and to help
keep constituents informed of his work on their behalf - both in the
constituency and in Parliament
- Dan writes regular
columns for local newspapers all year round to keep those he represents
in touch with his work. Since becoming MP the papers he has written
for have included The Somerset Guardian, Chew Valley Gazette, Bristol
Evening Post and Keynsham Observer
- A champion of Freedom
of Information, Dan was the only West Country MP to vote
against exempting MPs from Freedom of Information laws in the May 2007
vote on this important issue. Dan publishes details of how
much it costs to do his job as a busy MP
- Dan works with
key local organisations such as local councils, charities and businesses,
for the good of our community
Dan adds: "The
nature of my work means I have to spend much of the working week in Westminster.
But my priority is my constituents, and I employ staff to assist me in
responding promptly to my constituents' letters, phone calls and emails.
"I receive
an average of 500 letters each week, plus many, many phone calls, emails
and texts. Responding promptly and comprehensively to this correspondence
means sending thousands of letters to constituents - and thousands more
to the authorities, taking up their cases. My professional and hard-working
staff are a real asset, as are the other volunteers who help with more
routine tasks. I am especially grateful for the tremendous work they do."
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