Following constituency boundary changes in May
2010, I represent the new constituency of Thornbury and Yate,
which is to the north of Bristol.
The area covers most of the old seat of Northavon,
including:
- Acton Turville
- Alveston
- Aust
- Badminton
- Charfield
- Chipping Sodbury
- Coalpit Heath
- Falfield
- Frampton Cotterell
- Hawkesbury Upton
- Iron Acton
- Little Sodbury
- Marshfield
- Oldbury-on-Severn
- Olveston
- Pucklechurch
- Rangeworthy
- Thornbury
- Westerleigh
- Wick
- Wickwar
- Yate
If you are not sure whether you live in the
Thornbury and Yate constituency, check the
constituency
locator on the Parliament homepage. Simply type your postcode into the locator and it will tell
you whether I am your MP.
Salary: From 1 April
2010, an MP's salary is £65,738. Whilst I hold ministerial office I
receive an additional £33,000 in respect of additional responsibilities.
Pension: Since the 1997
election, MPs were required to contribute 6% of their salaries towards
the Parliamentary pension scheme. Recently, new rules were drawn up to
improve MPs' pensions and increase their contributions to 9%. I
voted against this measure, and remain on the 6% level.
Allowances:
Click here for a summary of
MPs' allowances and the expenses I have claimed. The
allowances system is changing from May 2010 with the establishment of
the new
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.
I often speak out in Parliament about issues that
affect the constituency. Click here to link
to my debates.
I also aim to raise many important issues in the
local newspapers. Click here to read some of my
press releases.
I am the Minister of State for Pensions in the new
Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition Government, working in the
Department for Work and Pensions and speaking in Parliament on pensions
issues.
Before becoming a Minister I was spokesman on work
and pensions issues for the Liberal Democrats, from January 2009 to May
2010. My brief included most aspects
of pensions, unemployment, social security benefits, the Child Support
Agency and tax credits issues.
In 2008 I spoke for the party on climate change,
environment and energy issues. During 2007 I headed up the
manifesto writing group for the next General Election. From May 2005 to
December 2006, I was the party's spokesman on health issues, and from
1999 to 2005, I was work and pensions spokesman.
Read some of my
Parliamentary contributions on Work and Pensions issues here.
Read some of my
Parliamentary contributions on Environment and Energy here.
Read some of my
Parliamentary contributions on Health issues here.