MPs can assist with matters that fall under the direct responsibility of central government, including issues related to:
- Benefits, pensions, National Insurance, and other matters dealt with by the Department for Work and Pensions
- Immigration and other problems dealt with by the Home Office
- Tax issues involving HM Revenue and Customs
- Problems with the NHS
- Problems with the Child Maintenance Service or Child Support Agency
- School and closures
Housing
I understand how challenging and stressful housing issues can be for many constituents. While I don’t have control over local authority housing, social housing, or the private rental market, and I’m not qualified to provide legal housing advice, I can assist in presenting your case to Charnwood Borough Council. Although we can’t demand specific actions or alter decisions, I can help highlight administrative errors. It’s important to note that transparent processes are in place to ensure everyone understands the rules.
The Housing Options Service can provide Charnwood constituents with free advice relating to preventing homelessness and finding accommodation when homeless.
For independent housing advice, you can contact:
Planning
MPs do not have any formal role in the planning process.
Those responsible for decisions in the planning process—such as planning officers, councillors, inspectors, and ministers—must adhere to strict procedural rules. These rules ensure that their decisions cannot be influenced by private discussions with anyone outside the formal process.
The government advises that “MPs should not seek to lobby planning ministers privately” and that only representations that are made available to all interested parties can be taken into account.
Sometimes MPs may help constituents articulate their concerns on a planning application, or write to the LPA about an issue. Anyone, including MPs, can also request for a planning application to be called-in by the Secretary of State.
In the planning system, it doesn’t matter who presents an argument—whether it’s an MP or a constituent. At every stage where public input is allowed, all comments are evaluated solely on their merits, regardless of who submits them.
See the House of Commons library for more information.
Ask for my help
If you have an issue that you believe I can assist with, please reach out to the constituency office via email at jeevun.sandher.mp@parliament.uk or phone 01509 351051. We will inform you if we can take on your case, need more details, or recommend scheduling an advice session with me.