February 2007

Scotland Office In February I attended a number of events including ones for the Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Scottish Council for Development and Industry, the Hospice Association and T-Mobile. I also met with the National Decommissioning Authority, the Christian Socialists, the Electoral Commission and retired Transport and General Workers’ Union members. I attended a meeting on international terrorism and answered several questions at Scotland Office Questions including ones on the UK Borders Bill, climate change and low carbon building programmes. At the end of the month I summed up for the Government in a debate about the Electoral Administration Bill. Constituency I met the Chief Executive of Inverclyde Council to discuss matters of mutual interest, attended a meeting of local business people to listen to what they wanted from Government and met with representatives from the Chamber of Commerce. I was also invited along to the local McDonald’s, visited Greenock High School and popped in to talk to pupils St Joseph’s Primary. Additionally, I spoke to members of the Health and Safety Executive about the enquiry they are conducting into the historic practices of the Semiconductor industry in Greenock. Northern Ireland February included my Northern Ireland duty weekend which gave me an opportunity to see several important businesses in the Province, including the Bushmills Distillery. I also met with the Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners, the Belfast Harbour Committee and the Warren Point Harbour Authority. Also attended a meeting about the future of the Titanic Quarter, was shown round Victoria Square in Belfast and took part in a Northern Ireland Grand Committee Debate and one about road traffic in the Province. Surgeries This months surgeries included ones in the Parliamentary Office, Port Glasgow, Craigend Resource Centre and the Fancy Farm Hall.