Monday

I bobbed for over an hour trying to catch the speaker’s eye so I could ask a question of the housing minister. I wanted to raise the issue of unsuitable insulating glazing units currently being sold in the UK, which undercut the superior quality ones that meet all the standards. I didn’t get taken but, more out of frustration than anything else, I took my appeal to social media and miraculously I received a written answer on Wednesday. I shall be liaising with local window manufacturers to see what can be done.

Tuesday

PACAC (Public administration and constitutional affairs select committee) took evidence from academics and journalists regarding the use of FOI (Freedom of information) requests. There is real fear that the U.K. government is withholding responses to FOI through the use of a Clearing House within the Cabinet Office. Nobody knows who is in the Clearing House and so judging their motivation is open to conjecture. Journalists feel they are being targeted which goes against the ‘applicant blind’ protocol. I met up with the Multiple Sclerosis Society to discuss a new approach to neurology services. And I took the opportunity to question them about their stance on medical cannabis as I have two debates next week on that subject.

Wednesday

I dropped in on the campaign to ban plastic in wet wipes. The number of wet wipes that wash up on our beaches is appalling. They have replaced cotton buds as the most common piece of detritus.

PMQs was back to its usual Punch and Judy standard. It was at its busiest for some time because it was the opening act for the Budget. A packed chamber is not a healthy working environment at the best of times and an increasing number of MPs are contracting COVID. Despite a recommendation for staff at Westminster to wear masks, for some unfathomable reason, MPs are not. There is no logic behind this. It is arrogant and sends out the wrong message. MPs should not be exempt from our obligations.

The main parts of the budget were published in the newspapers prior to any announcement in the chamber. This attracted the wrath of the speaker’s office and not for the first time. Just like MPs not wearing masks, this U.K. government’s contempt for protocol that ensures legislation is brought forward in the correct manner is clear for everyone to see. It should not be deemed acceptable. Ministers have resigned for less. The budget was big on promises, a lot of which won’t materialise until 2023!  But most of the budget was smoke and mirrors, giving with one hand and taking with another. It will leave millions of families worse off. I spoke in a Westminster Hall debate on the Dame Carol Black review of drugs policy. It was a decent debate but unfortunately the UK government still does not understand the issues and only the minister spoke from the government side. It’s a shame as Carol Black said the UK “Government faces an unavoidable choice: invest in tackling the problem or keep paying for the consequences”. It would appear they are happy to pay for the consequences.

In the evening I met with RenewableUK to discuss the direction of travel that renewable energy suppliers are taking. These events afford me the opportunity to promote Inverclyde to the senior members of the leading companies in the UK and abroad.

Thursday

I was in the chamber to hear Alison Thewliss MP articulate the real outcome of the previous day’s budget. The reality is that those in most need of help will not be getting it any day soon. Instead, we have a budget that will leave millions of people worse of. Some forecasters are predicting the cost of living could rise at its fastest for 30 years, but never mind the Chancellor of the United Kingdom is making champagne more affordable!

Friday

I visited Trade Right International to find out how they had got on during the pandemic and took the opportunity to buy more hand sanitizer for my office dispensers. While up at the Lynedoch Street Estate I visited Rory at The Whisky Chairmen to learn about new ventures and the kickstart programme. While it is good to get to meet more people in Inverclyde again, I am careful to apply all the relevant recommendations to protect myself and those I am visiting.

All things being well, Saturday morning should be a litter pick morning.

Monday

Not surprisingly, after the passing of James Brokenshire MP from cancer and the murder of David Amess MP, Westminster was very subdued working place on Monday morning. After questions to the Home Office, during which I pressed the minister to reveal what research he was basing his stance on psilocybin on, the rest of the business was given up for tributes to David Amess.  I know that in some circles as an SNP member, some people expect me to hate all people from all other parties but that’s simply not the case and I don’t feel any need to apologise for that. David was a decent human being that did not agree with me on some issues that I would rather he did. But first and foremost, he was a decent human being. 

Tuesday

I was in early to contribute to the Westminster Hall debate on the effect of Post Office closures on the local communities. In between voting and my weekly finance and economy meeting I had a quick question and answer session with pupils from Aileymill Primary. The pupils were extremely engaged in the subject matter and it was a joy to take their questions and answer them. Unfortunately, it was not a long session as just like school pupils a lot of my life is dictated by the bell. And when the division bell rings, I am required to drop everything and vote. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on medical cannabis under prescription met to discuss our immediate aims and also discuss future engagement with the U.K. government after the reshuffle of ministers. I then had three meetings in quick succession and a vote in between. 

Wednesday

Prime Minister’s Questions were it interesting. Watching the Prime Minister struggle to respond to pretty basic questions around the ‘on-line harm bill’ from the leader of the opposition, Keir Starmer. I have said earlier that the chamber has been understandably subdued and as that mood continues it is clear that the Prime Minister is much more comfortable in a knock about debate which allows him to belittle his opponents and being expected to handle himself in a more professional manner is beyond him. It didn’t last long as he lost his temper when confronted by Ian Blackford over the disgraceful handling of carbon capture projects in Scotland. Once again Westminster’s promises have been broken. I spoke in the Westminster Hall debate on ‘access to cash’. While acknowledging the popularity of cashless transactions and the reduction in the use of cash, we still need a strategy to transition that does not leave people behind. 5 million people in the U.K. still rely on cashing over 1 million don’t have a bank account. I managed to catch the end of the ‘environmental bill lords amendment 1 government motion to disagree’. I was expecting to vote at the end of business but as it transpired I didn’t.

Thursday 

My select committee PACAC (Public administration and constitutional affairs) took evidence from the ONS (Organisation for national statistics), UKSA (United Kingdom’s statistics authority and (Office for statistics regulation) OSR. It may sound like a battle of the acronyms but was actually a very interesting session examining the use and the understanding of statistics in government. We need timely accurate data on which to base policy and we need the confidence that the data being produced is independent of any political influence. We also need civil servants and politicians that can process the data appropriately. I attended the usual Thursday business statement and then headed home.

Friday 

I had a safety and security briefing with Police Scotland. These happen on a fairly regular basis but obviously given the murder of an MP while carrying out his parliamentary duties, it does no harm to reconsider my personal security and that of my co-workers. There is a balance to be found but engaging with my constituents remains paramount to fulfilling my duties as the elected member for Inverclyde. I visited Primark to discuss their new sustainability strategy. I concluded with a briefing on COP26 and am looking forward to attending in due course.