I have written to the Council and A1 Housing this week requesting a change of policy in housing allocation for service personnel from Bassetlaw who have returned from active service and require housing. I have been asked to intervene by a soldier recently returned from Afghanistan who left the army in November. He is on the housing lists as he has two young children, but in my view he should be at the top of the list.

The number of servicemen and women on active service who come from Bassetlaw and wish to return here immediately after leaving the services is extremely low and I do not suggest an open ended policy. However if you have been fighting for Queen and Country and are one of our own sons or daughters then you deserve to be housed in Bassetlaw.

Letters have been sent to many people by Raleys Solicitors telling them that they signed to give away some of their miners compensation. This misleading advice should be ignored. Raleys have been forced to send letters out by public pressure and if your family has received one then this means that Raleys owe you money.

Raleys made over £50 million in handling miners claims, which means extortionate profits. Therefore they should and will refund your money if you ask them. My office will write a letter for anyone needing help - and you will get all your money back. Don't let Raleys keep your money!

I challenged the Treasury this week on the relocating of local tax offices to Nottingham, Leeds and Sheffield. As I pointed out on the Treasury Committee, shifting to large cities is unfriendly to the environment as people have to commute further. In the week of the Copenhagen Summit, my advice is to keep services local.

I met the energy companies on Monday and again put forward my proposal for solar panels to be put into every pensioner bungalow that wants them. It is no good trying to win battles about climate change on generalities. Free hot water for pensioners - the promotion of this type of solar panel installation is a policy that most people will welcome. Furthermore the manufacturing of this technology will be a huge benefit to our engineering industry.