On Monday, I attended the Finance and Constitution Committee meeting, in the meeting we agreed to the Draft Budget 2018-2019 report.
On Tuesday, I attended the Finance and Constitution Committee Debate which focused on the Interim report on the Legislative consent motion on the EU Withdrawal bill. In this debate there was an agreement across the political divide that there needs to be changes made to the bill. We must establish a common framework to make sure that that our goals and values are continued to be applied across the UK as a whole. Much consideration is needed on the bill as it stands today.
In the evening on Tuesday, I attended a reception on plastic roads. The reception provided an opportunity to find out more about the economic, environmental and infrastructure benefits of rolling out plastic roads for Scotland. Representatives from Dumfriesshire-based company MacRebur Ltd were on hand to answer questions and give out information on the benefits of the roads.
On Wednesday, I had a conservative party business debate in the chamber on justice and transport policing. The debate on justice focused on the transparency, openness and accountability of the executive branch of government in Scotland and Parliament’s ability to scrutinize it effectively and hold it to account. The debate on transport policing debated railway policing and the transfer of responsibility for railway policing in Scotland from the British Transport Police (BTP) to Police Scotland.
On Thursday I attended First Ministers Questions (FMQs). Concerns were raised again about the meeting held by Michael Matheson and the lack of details from the meeting. I also attended the afternoon debate on Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Bill. The initial bill was met with criticism and disapproval from all opposition parties, who considered the legislation to be unfair, unworkable and inconsistent. This bill is still seen this way.
On Friday, I held surgeries in Monymusk and Garlogie. I appreciate my constituents coming to me with their concerns and issues.