Since devolution the work of Scottish Westminster MP's has changed. Health, Education, Law and Order, and Agriculture are now dealt with by the Scottish Parliament. If you live in Greenock, Gourock Inverkip or Wemyss Bay and need help on these issues then my colleague Duncan McNeil MSP will be happy to assist. Constituents who live in Port Galsgow Kilmacolm or Quarrier's Village should contact my other colleague Trish Godman who is the MSP for West Renfrewshire. The UK Parliament still has responsibility for Foreign Affairs and International Development, Defence, Social Security and The Economy.

My typical week as MP for Inverclyde and Minister of State for Scotland is split between London and the Constituency. Usually, first thing Monday morning, I will leave my flat in the centre of Greenock for Glasgow airport and catch one of their hourly flights to Heathrow, and then go straight to the Scotland Office in Dover House. There I will meet with Secretary of State for Scotland and civil servants to discuss how Bills going through the UK Parliament will impact on Scotland. I also liaise with the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, ensure that Scotland's interests are represented at Westminster and represent the Government at meetings with various groups and organisations.

Apart from having to vote on government legislation, part of my time will be spent in Parliamentary committees. I often sit on committees for Bills which will have a significant affect in Scotland and I am a member of the Scottish Grand Committee.

In the afternoon I begin dealing with correspondence and emails from my constituents in Inverclyde. My daily postbag will contain requests for help on a range of matters from constituents. This will often involve me meeting relevant government ministers or contacting organisations on their behalf.

I see one of the most important parts of my job as the MP for Inverclyde being to improve the economic prospects for people in the area. I take a keen interest in the employers in the constituency and work hard to attract new investment.

I return to the constituency on a thursday night and prepare for the following day where I will usually hold my surgery where local people come to see me with problems/issues they would like addressed. As local MP, I usually get many invites to attend events within the constituency and at the weekend I try to attend as many of these as possible and to meet as many constituents as I can, so that I am always uptodate with what is important to people. Sometimes I also have to attend functions in Scotland at the weekends in an official capacity.

Early Monday morning, I will be catching a flight down to London and the week will start over again.