Monday
I attended the Poverty Alliance event on making Scotland’s transport system work for everyone. It was held in the Caledonian University in Glasgow. The main focus was the cost and availability of suitable public transport. It was a well-attended event with representatives from a wide range of stakeholders. Mobility as a service is an area that the select committee on transport has looked at and it is an ongoing concern that the costs of inclusion have historically prohibited the investment required. I caught a late afternoon flight to Heathrow. My day had included a train to Glasgow, a taxi to the airport, a flight to Heathrow and a train to Paddington. I decided it was time to put into practice what I had learned and so I walked to Westminster from Paddington.
Tuesday
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee took evidence from William Hague and Jack Straw. The subject matter was Parliament’s involvement in the process of deciding on military intervention. It was interesting hearing Jack Straw promote the idea of Parliament’s involvement with his background of ‘dodgy dossiers’ and the UKs involvement in the Iraq war based on non-existent weapons of mass destruction. Ironically my next meeting was about the UKs nuclear weapons programme. The main focus was on the cost of the programme which is eye watering but in my opinion those that support these particular weapons of mass destruction will be prepared to pay any amount of money as they genuinely think they are a deterrent. When you have been taught to live in fear it is very difficult to learn to trust. I attended an interesting lecture on net zero carbon building. There are many ways which we can embrace more environmentally friendly building methods but governments, including local ones, must take the lead.
Wednesday
The Transport Select Committee took evidence from the Minister of state from Transport, Jesse Norman MP. The main thrust of the enquiry was active travel. The most popular methods being cycling and walking. He is always an enthusiastic and engaging witness that is prepared to fight his corner to support his brief. Prime Ministers Questions continues to be poorly attended and is frankly a meaningless exercise in public posturing. The Prime Minister chose to celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the 1707 treaty of unions (despite the fact it was signed against the will of the people of Scotland) and she failed to acknowledge International Workers Day. On the back of the recent protests by Extinction Rebellion a host of politicians that have never shown the slightest interest in the environment have had a sudden awakening and true to form the opposition day debate was on the climate change emergency. If we are going to address climate change it will take more than warm words at Westminster, we need serious and concerted investment in renewable energy and farming.
I travelled home in the evening.
Thursday
I caught up with administrative matters in the morning and in the afternoon I carried out street surgeries. In the evening I attended the Inverkip and Wemyss Bay Community Council. It’s always good to engage with the grass roots issues that concern the citizens of inverclyde and community councils perform a vital job in that area.
Friday
My annual check-up with my GP confirmed the presence of a heart, so that’s good. The morning was taken up by constituency surgeries and in the afternoon I met with Kilmacolm residents association and Kilmacolm Community Council to discuss planned house building projects in the village.
Ronnie Cowan MP 