The best years of my life - by Bexhill's MP

Mr Barker was guest of honour at Bexhill and District Gardens and Allotments Society's annual dinner at the Cooden Beach Hotel last Thursday and gave members an insight into the work of an MP.

Welcoming the Shadow Energy Minister, society chairman Dick Lancaster thanked him for his hospitality in hosting the society's interesting and informative visit to the Palace of Westminster earlier this year.

Before leaving to catch the train back to London in order to fulfil an engagement early the following morning,Mr Barker told society members and guests: "I have had the privilege of being your MP now for nearly eight years and its been absolutely the best eight years of my life.

"Every day that I go to the House or the constituency I really do thank my lucky stars that I represent this part of the world.

"The job of an MP is divided into distinct parts.

"There is the life down here in the constituency, supporting local groups and helping individuals and families with their problems on an individual basis.

"There is a very strong pastoral care element where we use the office to try and help people who are in trouble."

"Then there is what I do at Westminster. I am now spokesman for the Conservative Party on climate change."

Climate change was a pressing global issue and the role was demanding. But, he said, the aspect of his work which gave most satisfaction being in the constituency and, thanks to the work of his office manager in Amherst Road, Louise Sargent, meeting constituents.

Climate change, he argued, was already being combated to some degree by encouraging measures such as recycling more, by using the most efficient forms of transport.

But he wanted to see far more radical steps taken such as measures to encourage micro-generation, where householders created their own electricity by solar panels and other means.

Energy-saving could be as simple as creating the means for householders to keep a constant watch on consumption.

He raised laughter by telling how, after having tried out all the electrical devices in a new home he was confronted with a huge electricity bill. Having checked that the immersion heater worked, he had forgotten to switch it off...

If instead of hiding meters away in cupboards, householders had a digital read-out in a prominent place they would be able to see at a glance the effect on consumption of switching on, for example, a tumble-drier, he argued.

Describing his role that evening as the "warm-up act" for main speaker Hugh Miller on Smugglers And Smuggling, Mr Barker said his work as constituency MP was to represent all constituents, irrespective of political party allegiance.

The public imagined that MPs had wider powers than the actually possessed. What MPs could do was ask questions on behalf of constituents.

"I cannot always help but I am always willing to try and see what I can do on their behalf."

Referring to the society's visit, he said the Palace of Westminster had a wonderful history and a visit gave an insight into the workings of British democracy.

"If anyone else wants to come up, do tell my office and we will arrange a visit."