March 2007

Scotland Office This month’s Scotland Office duties saw me visit Agrippa Holdings in Hillington, attending the Highlands and Islands Convention in Stornaway and going along to Hadyard Hill Wind Farm. Other duties included meeting the Deputy Chairman of OFCOM, visiting an open cast coal site in East Ayrshire and hosting Scotland Office receptions for the TA and Energy Action Scotland. It was a busy month in the House with Scottish Questions where I was asked about international development, the digital switchover and ferry services. I also had responsibility for ensuring several Parliamentary Orders on such things as the Scottish Parliamentary Elections, police, public order and criminal justice went through Westminster. Constituency I went along to talk to pupils at both Greenock High School and Kings Oak Primary and also met Victim Support to endorse their grant application. Other meetings included one with Renfrewshire Enterprise who updated me on their activities in Inverclyde and another with a new Bizz Fizz coach. I also met trainees at on a course at Trust Employability Services who are hoping for employment with the new Tesco store in Port Glasgow, and I called in at the Tesco Dalrympe Street shop to give my backing to the USDAW respect for shop workers campaign. Northern Ireland As part of this month’s ministerial duties in Northern Ireland, I visited a customer call service centre for water and sewage charges, attended a reception at the Irish Embassy and did a duty weekend in Northern Ireland. I also took part in Northern Ireland Questions and was instrumental in getting the Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries Order through Westminster. Surgeries During March I had surgeries in the Salvation Army, Central Library, Parliamentary Office, Meadowlark Hall, Upper Larkfield Community Hall, and 7 ½ John Wood Street.