November 2007

Constituency During November I visited the new Sainsbury store in Inverkip, Lloyds Bank in Greenock and also attended an event organised by the Gourock Royal Yacht Club. I also met with the manager of the local Volunteer Centre, the manager of Greenock’s Jobcentre Plus and several new mental health officials who were about to take up post. Additionally, I went to Greenock Cut to see environmental improvements resulting from lottery funding, organised a business breakfast on aspects of Inverclyde’s regeneration, went along to IBM’s Innovations Awards in the Town Hall and attended the switch on of the Christmas lights. Surgeries This month I held surgeries in the Parliamentary Office in Greenock and in the Boglestone Community Centre in Port Glasgow. Scotland Office Amongst my many duties at the Scotland Office this month were: attending the Remembrance Day Service in Edinburgh, answering questions at the despatch box on electricity generation and the digital switchover, giving evidence to the Scottish Affairs Committee on the Gould Report, speaking in an adjournment debate on economic development in Falkirk and piloting an Order giving more power to JP and district courts. I also visited Working Links in Glasgow, the Roslyn Institute, Herriot Watt University, and Encap Drug Delivery in Livingstone. Additionally I met with Shell, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish and Southern Energy and the RSPB.