AN MP held his local weekly surgery by video link after being forced to stay in London on parliamentary business.
Hyndburn and Haslingden MP Greg Pope usually holds his advice surgeries on Fridays in various parts of his constituency but this week he was unable to return to the borough.
But constituents were be able to go to his office in Abbey Street, Accrington, and speak with him in his Commons office via the Skype internet calls service, with a brand new webcam also allowing them to see him.
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Mr Pope said: "I'm interested in using new technologies in ways that make it easier for constituents to communicate with me, and recently I came top of a poll of MPs who are good as responding to constituents' emails.
"We've been meaning to try out video link advice surgeries for quite a while now and as I had to stay in London this Friday it seemed an ideal opportunity to try it out.
"I was obviously nervous but I think it went well. We had four people who came to give it a go, and I think they would like to see it happen again. I tend to use email as it's probably the quickest and also the greenest form of communication. I also have the dreaded Blackberry, but it's actually very good for keeping in touch with people, and I can respond to emails even when I'm on the train."
The session also served as a money and time saving device for the MP, who had to go abroad on business this weekend. Instead of having to travel back from London for the surgery, only to then travel back down, the MP was able to continue his usual routine from the comfort of an office chair.
He added: "In future I would intend to do it as well as my normal advice surgeries, not instead of them."
Email popeg@parliament.uk with feedback about the system.
For more information on the advice surgeries, call 01254 382283.
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