There is a proposal to shut the County Contact Points and this is alongside a District Council proposal to close the cash payment desks in Retford and Worksop. Considering how the main council offices are based in Worksop, it looks to me that Retford will be particularly isolated by these decisions.

The danger of these unwise closures is that council services will become more remote. The Bassetlaw area covers a third of the land of Nottinghamshire, yet there is a new impetus to shifting our services down south. Highways has moved south into Newark and Sherwood and there is increasing reliance on anonymous call centres. The County Contact Points are the perfect antidote to these trends, but if they go then County Council services will become more distant and less accountable.

There have been issues floating around Parliament this week about parenting - or rather the lack of it. A mother complains that her son is thrown out of nursery for hitting staff. The real question is why she feels comfortable in making her poor parenting skills and bad attitude so public?

Cases of parents threatening schools when their children are disciplined are quite rare in this area, but they do occasionally happen. But how can schools keep discipline if parents are aggressive in response. I sometimes wonder whether schools are too tolerant and understanding. I recall when I ran shop-steward residential courses and anyone who made a nuisance of themselves was sent straight home and anyone who turned up late on a morning was also sent packing.

I think it is the same with schools. Rude and aggressive children need disciplining. Parents who are similarly anti-social should be told to find another school and I am a strong believer in fining parents for any criminal behaviour by the under 16s. Discipline, good manners and good behaviour should start at home.

One tricky issue for MPs is how best to handle information given about benefits fraud, drug dealing or social services issues. I take a very simple stance: I pass on the allegations. Sometimes they may be unfounded or mischievous, but usually they are not. When it comes to drug dealing I will always pass on detailed information, using my name not the person who has contacted me. My job is not to be judge and jury, but it is to help the authorities in carrying out their difficult work to the best of their ability.