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It’s been another busy month in the Scottish Parliament and there’s actually been a great deal of common ground found on certain issues.
Just last Tuesday, the First Minister, backed by all other party leaders, apologised to gay men convicted of acts that are no longer illegal.
Over Wednesday and Thursday, the parliament unanimously passed the Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill and the Seatbelts on School Transport Bill, the latter of which had been brought forward by my friend and colleague, Gillian Martin MSP.
All parties have also come together to condemn the harassment and unacceptable behaviours that have been highlighted and reported on in recent weeks and there has been a welcome commitment to ensure female representation on the parliamentary corporate body.
There was also a temporary evacuation of the whole MSP block after a suspicious package was found and safety concerns again raised.
Over the last two weeks alone I have spoken in various debates including on the Forestry Bill, Active Travel and Mainstreaming in Education.
As always this has given me the opportunity to highlight some of the great contributions and initiatives throughout the constituency such as the work at Drumpark School, the Shining Stars and St Monica’s Ramblers, to name but a few.
Perhaps the most interesting debate though was the Labour party one on health. While Anas Sarwar used his party’s parliamentary time to undermine our health service, Labour-run Wales had sent a fact finding team to Monklands Hospital to find out how to meet A&E targets.
This coming after the Nuffield Trust had published a report on how the UK could learn from Scotland’s unique health system. You couldn’t make it up.
I’ve continued to meet with people at surgeries, in the office and at my, now weekly, street door-knocking days.
It’s fair to say many are not happy with North Lanarkshire Council’s ongoing bin situation and its recently announced proposal to increase the distance before children are eligible for school transport to two miles for primaries and three for secondaries.
My advice would be for anyone likely to be affected by this is to engage in the consultation to try and stop it.
My team and I have also been preparing for the public meeting at Carnbroe Primary where we will have discussed the results of the survey on the proposed pyrolysis plant and the next steps.
As a Living Wage accredited MSP, I supported Living Wage week and visited local businesses to hear how it’s working in practice.
I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to modern studies pupils at Coatbridge High and St Andrew’s High schools and visiting Abbeyfield Care Home and the Maggie’s Centre at Monklands, among other visits.
Finally, by the time this column is published, I will also have attended the annual Remembrance Day services throughout the area.
We must never forget the brave sacrifices of those before us who ensured the freedom we all enjoy today. Lest we Forget.
We must never forget the brave sacrifices of those before us who ensured the freedom we all enjoy today