Writing to MP

enemes

Mr_Green_Genes wrote: »

Ah! The perils of having a cabinet minister as an MP. S/he won't have as much time for constituents problems and in any case will be likely to slavishly support the government line. You need an opposition MP or a proper independently minded person from the government party (currently, someone like Frank Field or Kate Hoey).

I couldn't agree more with what GG says, sometimes it is more powerful to go to opposition, wether you agree with them or not, as they are more likely to fight for that extra inch, so to speak, or extra vote!

I went to my MP some time ago, an actual visit to the constituency office, after drawing blanks with the CSA. By the time I had got home, the CSA had left a message on my phone which I was able to follow through.

I wouldn't spend too much time going into great detail, I am sure your MP will look interested, but at the end of the day he/she isn't going to worry about such detail, the CSA will get all of that from you in time.

Another route to follow, is the Under Secretary of State for Benefits. The person has changed since I dealt with him, but he also was able to kick butt big time. I speculatively emailed him, and the response I got was impressive, to say the least.

Anyway, Good Luck on Saturday, and remind your MP that he/she has a Parliamentary Hotline through to the CSA, should you get brushed aside!

Mr_Green_Genes

enemes wrote: »

Another route to follow, is the Under Secretary of State for Benefits. The person has changed since I dealt with him, but he also was able to kick butt big time. I speculatively emailed him, and the response I got was impressive, to say the least.

Anyway, Good Luck on Saturday, and remind your MP that he/she has a Parliamentary Hotline through to the CSA, should you get brushed aside!

These are very important points for people to remember. Thanks to enemes for pointing them out.

enemes

Thanks Mr GG!

As ever I am humbled by your endorsements ...

This led me into digging out old papers and emails to put substance to my claims.

Originally it was Lord McKenzie of Luton who dealt with my case, though I am reliably informed that Lord McKenzie is no longer the Minister responsible for the Child Support Agency but James Plaskitt MP is now the Minister responsible, should anyone want to bother him!

Obviously, one can't match one against the other, but Lord McKenzie did write to me giving me the names and numbers of people at Dudley to 'urge' my case on, primarily, a case officer for finance and another for 'information gathering'!

There was no doubt that in future contacts with the CSA, the odd drop of a name or so, did get people scurrying about!

...and BTW, that email, try Office email: PSL@dwp.gsi.gov.uk ... if it is still live!:A

Feline_friendly

I emailed my MP last week and have just received a letter saying he has written to the CSA on my behalf and will let me know of the reply as soon as he receives it.

We will see...do you think this will speed my case up at clerical or not?

Billy2207

I have had the misfortune to work in the civil service for central government for 16 years (but am finally escaping this year). I would not discourage people from writing to their MP to sort out problems but be aware of what really happens.

The MP is highly unlikely to see your letter, it will all be dealt with by their staff and they will only be asked to sign correspondence to you or onward correspondence to relevant departmental heads. They will only ever get involved personally if there is useful political capital or advantage to be gained for themselves.

Overwhelmingly the MP will write to the Minister in charge of the relevant department or, if appropriate, the regional government office. To cut a long story short the letter will be passed down through endless chains of command before finally reaching a very junior member of staff (probably someone you have already dealt with on the phone or in an office) who will put together a tome of detail from your file and a draft reply to your MP. The whole thing then goes in reverse, back up the chain to a suitable point (rarely as far as Perm Sec or Minister) for reply to the MP. During this reverse process the details, facts etc will be edited at every point until the final response says little, omits any admission of error and generally blames you for the delays/errors/mistakes. In the unlikely event the evidence shows overwhelmingly that it was a departmental error you will be told it has been resolved and that a very junior member of staff has fallen on their sword for the dignity of senior managers.

As I say, it cannot hurt to highlight your case by writing to your MP but, here’s the useful bit, before you do that write to the relevant department under the Freedom Of Information Act or the Data Protection Act etc requesting copies of any and all correspondence and papers (including internal) held in respect of you and your specific case. At least that way you will be in possession of the same information and facts they have and will prevent them telling you whopping lies when they have to reply to the MP.

Good luck. One more tip, always be polite, if you offend a civil servant they will not only dig their heels in, they will deliberately look at ways to screw you over further. If you are polite and witty (inoffensive sarcasm is acceptable) they will like you, admire your cheek, put your file to the top of the pile and do everything they can to help you. It is a little known fact most civil servants are very low paid juniors who hate their senior managers, ministers etc and love seeing the public winning.

frugallass

I would deffo encourage people to meet with their MP at one of their surgeries rather than just write

Sensemaya

Billy2207

Great post. Just goes to show the machinations of Govt.

What about the Civil Servant's Code of Conduct?

Mr_Green_Genes

Billy, I agree with Sensemaya. Great post, and true as I know myself, although my sentence was only 13 months. How did you stick it that long???

As for frugallass's post, I agree that there is nothing quite like sitting in front of your MP for half an hour and taking him/her through the important parts of the case. I was advised by someone with expertise to send mine some documentation ahead of the meeting to give him the chance to get up to speed. That worked really well so I recommend it.

frugallass

Mr_Green_Genes wrote: »

As for frugallass's post, I agree that there is nothing quite like sitting in front of your MP for half an hour and taking him/her through the important parts of the case. I was advised by someone with expertise to send mine some documentation ahead of the meeting to give him the chance to get up to speed. That worked really well so I recommend it.

it does help to plan ahead and give them something to read before the meeting - don't be scared of meeting the MPs folks

Billy2207

Thanks for the ‘thanks’ for my first post, I’m glad it was useful.

I don’t really know how I lasted 16 years either, I did try to bail out after a couple of months as the CS was a circus after spending 10 years in the private sector. Unfortunately back then the job scene was as bleak as today. After a couple of years I did actually get moved into a fascinating worthwhile job that I used to love, I felt it genuinely contributed to society. For the last couple of years however I have worked for a mad !!!!! who makes Satan’s Rotweiller look like the Andrex puppy so its time to move on.

In a nutshell the British Civil Service is now a morally bankrupt, rancid cesspit of injustice, inequality, corruption and incompetence managed by semi-professional politicians, spin doctors, liars and bullies whose only agenda is a personal one, to sustain the enormous salaries they neither earn nor deserve. I could go on but suspect many have stopped reading already.

In terms of the Code of Conduct it is written like any other CS document, it is nebulous and can be interpreted by Senior Civil servants in any way they see fit to defend their actions and/or attitudes at any one specific moment.

Blimey, hark at me, you would not know I’ve had a really good week this week would you! The !!!!! got snowed in at home today as well so she’s not in the office.