Monday

UK budget week means business is slow so I stayed in Inverclyde today. This gave me to the opportunity to engage with constituents on local matters. Top of the agenda was the council tax rise. I was pleased to hear so many had seen through the smoke and mirrors and understood that the Scottish Government have offered to provide £2.9 million to Inverclyde Council and therefore no rise is council tax is required.

I had an interview on the Radio 4 show You and Yours. The subject matter was the affordability checks on gambling. The Cheltenham Festival was cited as an issue but there are no affordability checks planned for racecourses betting or high streets bookmakers. The target is the extremely damaging online gambling industry. In the evening, I checked up on the progress to secure a building and control vermin infestation at Smithy Brae in Kilmacolm.

Tuesday

I utilised my travelling time this morning by writing my Greenock Telegraph column for yesterday. With the budget statement tomorrow, there were a lot of briefings from organisations addressing what they want from the chancellor to be read. I had an interview with The House magazine on Medical Cannabis.

Wednesday

I met with Andy Harmer, managing director of the Cruise Line International Association. We discussed the cruise ship industry's contribution to Inverclyde, how we can improve it and the impact on the environment that the industry has.

It was Scotland Questions before Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQ’s). Today is also budget day and therefore the busiest day in the chamber all year. It was therefore surprising to hear the Secretary of State for Scotland accuse the SNP members of not attending. We were packed on the benches but he couldn’t deviate from his preprepared lines and have a go at the SNP. He would be better spending his time talking up Scotland rather than running down the elected members.

PMQs was the usual tit for tat between UK Government and Labour opposition. When Stephen Flynn pointed out the energy being taken from Scotland to England, the chamber filled with calls of “UK energy”. It’s remarkable how they see Scotland when they want to criticise it but it’s UK when they see something they like. Scotland would not be leading the way in clean green renewable energy if it wasn’t for the SNP Scottish Government. The big business of the day was the Budget. I remember Budget Day as a kid. It focused on how much the price of beer, tobacco and mortgages went up. This was then presented by the media as who within society benefitted and who paid the price. Life seemed much simpler then, but the truth is that today, just as many years ago the contents of the budgets can have a beneficial effect on individuals and families but god and the devil are in the detail.

Thursday

Along with others, I had a meeting with Inverclyde Council, Scottish Water and Cloch Housing to catch up on the flood avoidance work off Kilmacolm Road. Good progress has been made and a better understanding of the causes has been achieved. I then met with Gillian Martin MSP to discuss the situation regarding BT/EE and their proposed move to Glasgow. Locally, we continue to investigate every possibility. I met with constituents in Inverkip and Gourock to get their take on the council tax increase in Inverclyde.

Friday

I attended the Shine a Light on Recovery event at the Beacon. It’s always good to catch up with old friends and on this occasion to see the great work they are doing across Inverclyde. I visited Clyde Coast Radio to meet all the presenters and hung around for an hour to do my show.

Saturday

I shall be attending the Ardgowan Hospice Charity Ball. Let’s hope we raise lots of money for a most worthy cause that does so much for our community.