THIS is my first new fortnightly diary column in the Tele where I will aim to provide an overview of my activities and some of the issues I’m involved in.

I intend informing readers of some of my activities of the previous two weeks, and hopefully it will prove interesting and give people an insight into my work as your MSP.

MSP’s are members of parliamentary committees which both scrutinise legislation as well as undertake enquiries into relevant issues. I am deputy convener of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform (DPLR) Committee, which meets every Tuesday morning.

We have just started scrutinising the Contract (Third Party Rights Scotland) Bill. 

Thursday mornings see me attend my second committee. I am a member of the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee (CTEER).  

We have been particularly busy since last June post the European referendum.

We have published three reports on the impact of Brexit on Scotland and as you may expect, those findings show that Brexit will have a negative effect on Scotland’s economy. As a committee we have suggested there should be a differentiated position for Scotland as the UK begins the exit process.

A normal working week for me is Monday – in the constituency meeting with constituents, local businesses and third sector organisations; Tuesday – in parliament for the DPLR committee followed by a debate in the afternoon.
While I don’t speak in every debate, I speak in my fair share.

This week alone I will be speaking in two debates, one on The CTEER report about Brexit and the second on Commonwealth Day 2017. The latter is a members’ debate, which I am leading.

As I don’t have committee on a Wednesday I tend to catch up with emails and sometimes have meetings in parliament.

In the afternoon, there is a debate in the chamber preceded by questions to a Cabinet Secretary.

Thursday mornings I have the CTEER committee followed by general questions in the chamber then it’s the big event of the week, First Minister’s Questions.

FMQ’s is always popular, with tickets for the public gallery at a premium. If readers would like to come and see FMQ’s, then please contact my office to arrange.

I’m back in the constituency on a Friday meeting constituents and attending local events and holding surgeries. There tends to be some events at weekends and evenings and I try and attend as many as I can. Getting through from parliament on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for evening meetings is always challenging to say the least however.

In parliament every evening and lunchtime there are numerous events and Cross Party Groups (CPG’s).

I am a member of a number of CPGs and convene both the CPG on Visual Impairment and the CPG Recreational Boating and Marine Tourism, which I established in 2009.

The latter I have used to help promote Inverclyde as a marine tourism and recreational boating destination on a national scale.

I can be contacted at Stuart.McMillan.MSP@Parliament.scot or by calling 720930.