WE are now in the month of March and within the next couple of weeks, Article 50 will be triggered by the Prime Minister. 

Our European Committee published its recent report at the weekend highlighting our findings and conclusions regarding the trade and economic aspects of a post-EU future.

At time of writing, the report is embargoed but will be public now. It can be found on the Scottish Parliament website.

Our committee also held a seminar with politicians from the Welsh Assembly, the London Assembly and academics from Northern Ireland. 

We discussed a range of issues with particular importance to each of our locations. 

In Scotland’s case it was the single market, Wales had inter-governmental policy, London had preparing a future with fewer EU migrants and Northern Ireland centred around border issues.
 

LAST Wednesday, I attended the launch of Compassionate Inverclyde hosted by Ardgowan Hospice and the local Health and Social Care Partnership. 

The launch was attended by Scottish Government health and sport minister, Aileen Campbell MSP. 

As many readers will testify, there is a vast amount of compassion in Inverclyde and this programme to encourage people to consider others, at testing times in their lives, is something worth promoting.

Some of the presentations were inspirational and encouraging society to discuss good life, good death, good grief is something I believe we ought to improve upon.
 

FINALLY, congratulations to everyone involved with the proposed Ardgowan Distillery. 

This £12m investment will add to Inverclyde’s tourism offering as well as job creation.