Surveys and Responses to Email Campaigns

Young People's Mental Health

It is incredibly important to protect and support the health of children and young people in our society. In recent years we have made huge progress in understanding mental health issues, and I support efforts to transform children and young people’s mental health for the better.

World Oceans Day

The ocean is such an important asset to our planet so we must ensure we take care of it. In Meon Valley we are lucky to be so near to the coast and be able to enjoy the beautiful sea.

Environment Bill Report Stage

I am pleased that this Government remains fully committed to the Environment Bill as a key part of delivering the manifesto commitment to create the most ambitious environmental programme of any country on Earth.

Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem

I am a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Palestine and follow events there closely. I have also visited the West Bank so I am aware of some of the issues on the ground. We must work hard to make sure that both Israel and Palestine can exist together in peace.

Voter ID

I have personally come across a couple of examples when a neighbour went to vote and someone had already voted on her behalf, this was the same in another polling district. I do not think that it changed the election result but it was very unhelpful and irritating for the people wanting to vote.

Calories on Menus

I can assure you that tackling these disorders through early and effective treatment remains a key priority of our NHS.

Radiotherapy and Cancer

Like many others, I have had relations and friends die of cancer, it is a terrible disease.

Renovation of the Downing Street flat occupied by the Prime Minister

Downing Street is an historic working complex containing several buildings and two ministerial residences. The Government is legally required to maintain Downing Street buildings to standards appropriate to their Grade I and Grade II listed status.

International Criminal Court Investigation into Israel

I am a member of the Palestine All-Party Parliamentary Group and feel very strongly that Palestinian rights and freedoms must be respected as we search for a viable two-state solution that can stand the test of time.

Abortion in Northern Ireland

I believe that this should be a devolved issue for the Northern Ireland Assembly to legislate on. Like you, I am concerned, as I do not see why the law there should be more liberal than in the rest of the UK.

Overseas Operation Bill

The Overseas Operations Bill will help veterans of overseas conflict avoid the threat of vexatious legal claims long after their service has ended. I have met with numerous innocent veterans who have seen their lives turned upside down by this sort of action – poor thanks for their service.

Palestinian Children

Email Campaigns

Each day I receive several hundred emails and letters, and while I am keen to understand the views of constituents on issues which are important to you, I have to prioritise how I respond to them.

Many of the emails I receive are template campaign emails about Government policy generated by organisations or lobby groups. While I try to respond directly to as many as I can as quickly as I can, I cannot prioritise this over assisting constituents with casework queries – people who are asking for my help with an issue affecting them urgently.

I do take note of all the points made in the course of these campaigns, and I regularly discuss issues with charities or organisations when they raise issues of concern, as well as with Ministers.

I will collate on this page my response to the issues raised by click-and-send campaigns as they arise, and I hope the information these responses contain will be useful to you. Please see the links to the right.

EDMs and Petitions

Please note that, like many Members of Parliament in all parties, I do not sign Early Day Motions as these are never debated or voted on in Parliament, and cannot bind Government policy in any way.

While I am sometimes contacted about signing petitions, there is a process for raising these in Parliament, and only those generated by the official process can be considered. There is no method for bringing non-Parliamentary petitions to the official attention of Parliament or the Government.