WHAT CONSTITUENTS SAY
A local community website: www.neathferret.co.uk asked its readers to write in to say how Peter Hain has helped them as an MP during his years as a Member of Parliament for Neath - there was no response except for the following:
"Having met Peter Hain on many occasions I have found him to be a decent human being."
Two readers stated that they had written to Peter Hain at the House of Commons and that he passed their letters on to the minister of the relevant department (e.g. Work and Pensions) who then replied to them.
Peter Hain sent a copy of the minister's reply to the constituent with a brief covering letter stating he was enclosing a copy of the minister's response.
This may indeed be standard parliamentary procedure, but it would suggest that MPs doing this are simply acting as a postman.
Another Neath resident said she wrote to Peter Hain about the Neath Empire entertainment centre prior to its demolition. The resident said she received a post card acknowledgement - but nothing further.
