PARLIAMENT returned after the council elections and a few issues dominated the agenda. 

Clearly, the council election results and possible coalition deals were the talk of the steamie. The general consensus was that very few deals will be reached before the upcoming UK election. 

Whatever discussions that take place now may have a change of direction the day after the UK election is over.

A further issue of discussion this week was the literacy results published on Tuesday. 

Clearly, the figures for some pupils weren’t what anyone would wish to see. 

The Cabinet Secretary stated that the results are ‘simply not good enough’ and showed that education reforms were now ‘imperative’. 

Some changes have already taken place with a reduction in guidance for teachers as well as the £750m attainment challenge fund and the £120m pupil equity fund with financial resources going directly to headteachers to spend. A clear focus on pupils’ literacy will continue.

On June 12, I will be hosting an Inverclyde Tourism Summit and the chief executive of VisitScotland has agreed to come and take part. 

The summit is aimed at bringing together both the private and public sector organisations to help drive our tourism offering forward. VisitScotland figures published in January highlighted Inverclyde employs 2,100 in tourism. 

We can do more. The more we talk Inverclyde and its tourism offering up, the more our tourism demand can increase.

If this happens, more jobs and careers will be created and this will help our economy.