Who to contact
This page has details of who to contact for local and national government issues. Other useful contacts for help and advice on a wide range of issues from benefits to water supply are included on the organisations page.
Online guide for problems and complaints >>
Council issues
All council services, including: roads, pavements, public transport, refuse collection, council housing, planning, noise problems.
For most local problems, you should first contact the City of Edinburgh Council by phoning one of the numbers listed in the Edinburgh Council page.
If the matter is not resolved satisfactorily then you should contact your local councillor at the City Chambers or at his/her surgery.
Scottish Parliament issues include: education, health, transport, housing, local government, environment, crime and planning issues at a Scottish level.
The Scottish Parliament has responsibility for all matters (known as devolved matters) which have not been formally reserved to Westminster. It therefore has the power to create new legislation, or amend or repeal existing legislation, in the following areas:
- health;
- education and training;
- local government;
- social work;
- housing;
- economic development;
- transport;
- law and home affairs (including the police and the emergency services);
- the environment;
- agriculture, forestry and fishing;
- sport and the arts;
- statistics, public registers and records.
For these issues, you should contact Margaret Smith MSP.
Surgery - By appointment, at 3 Drum Brae Avenue, Edinburgh EH12 8TE. For an appointment, please call 0131 317 7292 (Mondays and Fridays) or 0131 348 5786 (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays).
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Westminster issues
The UK Parliament at Westminster retains powers (called reserved powers) over the following matters:
- the constitution of the UK;
- UK foreign policy;
- UK defence and national security;
- UK fiscal, economic and monetary policy;
- immigration and nationality;
- employment legislation;
- common markets for UK goods and services;
- social security;
- transport safety and regulation;
- certain other matters subject to UK and GB regulation, including: abortion, equal opportunities legislation, the National Lottery.
John Barrett is the Westminster MP for Edinburgh West. This covers most of the same area as Margaret Smith’s Scottish Parliament constituency. However, if you live in Craigleith Hill, parts of Blackhall or West Pilton, you are in the Westminster constituency of Edinburgh North and Leith.
Surgery – John Barrett MP has regular surgeries in the constituency. These are held, by appointment, on Fridays from 3pm and Mondays at 9am at 1a Drum Brae Avenue, Edinburgh EH12 8TE. More details on John’s website.
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If you aren’t sure who to contact, Margaret Smith’s staff will be happy to help you on 0131 317 7292 (Mondays and Fridays) and 0131 348 5786 (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.)