Surgeries
Damian holds regular advice surgeries in East Hampshire on Friday afternoons. Each appointment is 15 minutes long and must be booked ahead of time. To make an appointment, please email the office using the details below.
You will need to provide your full name, full address with postcode and contact telephone number, as parliamentary protocol prohibits Damian from acting for constituents who are represented by another MP.
You have the option of attending the surgery in person or requesting an online appointment
Before requesting a surgery appointment please do:
- Check whether the issue can be sorted direct (please refer to the 'when you need help' section of this page).
- Think about whether we could start to help you more quickly if you phoned or emailed rather than waiting for the next available surgery appointment.
Please note that Members of Parliament are not permitted to intervene in any matters of a legal nature and cannot offer legal advice. Members of Parliament can usually only assist with issues that are the responsibility of the UK Parliament. Often the right person to contact will be a local councillor, Citizens Advice or an ombudsman. They are unlikely to be able to assist with private disputes.
MPs do not have any jurisdiction over local Council decisions, so please contact your local Councillor (see below) if you wish to have the assistance of an elected representative in pursuing an issue with a local Council.
The full list of services provided by Hampshire County Council can be found here.
The full list of services provided by East Hampshire District Council can be found here.
The full list of services provided by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council can be found here.
Town Council websites are also useful guides to local services:
Councillors
Find your District Councillor (East Hampshire District Council)
Find your Borough Councillor (Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council)
Find your County Councillor (Hampshire County Council)
Alternatively, you can find your councillor by entering your postcode here.
Housing enquiries
Many people write to me about issues to do with housing. I know that these can often be highly stressful and complex situations to navigate, and knowing where to start can be a challenge in itself.
I always suggest that the best place to start is Hampshire HomeChoice. This sets out the steps you need to take to register for social housing as well as the rules the local authorities (in this case East Hampshire District Council and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council), follow to ensure that the available accommodation is allocated fairly and transparently.
As an MP, I have no role or powers in relation to housing, as this is all managed by not-for-profit housing associations, but I can always make enquiries about a case or offer advice based on my past experience with constituents in a similar situation.
Education - Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
Like housing, I receive many emails about SEND provision for children and how to access it. Responsibility for SEND sits with Hampshire County Council so while I can't intervene in the formal process, I can direct individuals to the correct person or team within the authority who can hopefully help with your particular situation.
There is a wealth of information on the following websites: Hampshire SENDIASS, IPSEA, SOS!SEN or HPCN.
Public meetings
I host regular open discussion forums in the community for all residents living in the East Hampshire constituency. This is an opportunity to raise any concerns with me direct and debate local issues in a relaxed and friendly environment. These tend to take place on a Thursday evening in a community venue. Details are published beforehand on this website and in the local newspaper. If you would like me to come and speak at a community event, please contact the office using the details below.
My next public meeting will be in Alton in January 2025. Details will be published here soon.