BOLTON MPs have expressed sympathy with a report which says MPs spend too much time on constituency problems, and not enough holding the Government to account at Westminster.

Bolton's Brian Iddon and David Crausby said that, as new boys, they found it difficult to cope with the amount of constituency work.

And veteran Worsley MP Terry Lewis said he had seen the amount of constituency work increase vastly in his almost 16 years in Parliament.

Bolton South East Dr Iddon said: "I think MPs have to strike a balance between constituency cases and holding the executive to account. It's a most difficult thing to do.

"I am going to try to do more in the next session. That does not mean I intend to neglect my constituents . They will still get a first class service. I am now beginning, after 18 months, to find out how best to use the Commons."

Bolton North East Mr Crausby said: "I have some sympathy with the report. It sometimes seems as an MP that you are an amateur social worker and advice centre.

"It is very important that an MP does hold the Government to account, but it is also important that he is available and accountable to people in his constituency."

The report said back-benchers were increasingly overwhelmed by local problems at the expense of their real job of scrutinising legislation and ensuring the Government fulfilled its role properly.

Mr Lewis said: "I think probably there is an element of truth in that.

"While I have been a MP the number of constituency cases has gone up sharply."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.