Monday — This week was UK Parliament Week. The aim is to encourage and increase, knowledge of and participation in the democratic process. 

A number of schools in Inverclyde have been taking part and so my first event of the week was  a visit to Inverclyde Academy. 

The pupils quizzed me on a range of subjects including immigration, Universal Credit and children’s rights. 

I caught the midday flight to London and was in time to attend a Westminster Hall debate. 

It was a petitions debate in response to two public petitions on the proposal for a second Scottish Independence referendum. It was still a well attended and lively affair. 

I am continually disappointed that unionists MPs reasoning mostly revolves around their belief that Scotland isn’t very good and they don’t like the SNP. 

I would have hoped the debate would have focused more on their perceived benefits of being in the union, like being in the European Union.

Tuesday — I attended an urgent debate in the House of Commons on tax avoidance and evasion. 

It was galling to listen to some Conservative MPs defend tax avoidance because it was legal and completely ignore that it is immoral. 

Whether it be corporations or individuals, we all have a duty to pay into a system that provides, health care, education, armed forces and the infrastructure of our society as we all benefit from them. 

This debate was followed by the first day of debating the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill. 

Wednesday — Prime Minister’s Question time saw an unusually upbeat prime minister swipe away weak questioning from Mr Corbyn. 

She was evasive over a question from the SNP over the VAT that Police Scotland pay. We have been pursuing this for some time and shall continue to do so. 

I met with representatives of the multiple sclerosis society to discuss cannabis as a medicinal product. I had a meeting with narcotics anonymous and heard powerful testimony about addiction. 

I attended a briefing meeting from ‘missing people’ who work to reunite people who have gone missing with their family, friends and communities. 

A staggering 40,000 people go missing in Scotland each year. Many for a few hours or a day, some for much longer. 

I attended the All Party Parliamentary Group on Catalonia. Recent events in Catalonia have not shown up the Madrid government in a good light. 

In the evening I attended an event hosted by Peel Ports.

They own the ocean terminal in Greenock along with other coastal land including the dry dock at Inchgreen. They were there to shout about their £750 million pound investment in Liverpool. 

I was there to take them to task over Inchgreen being moth balled for years when it could be generating jobs for the local community. 

Thursday — At 9am I chaired the ‘Festival of Social Science’ discussion on basic income. It was well attended and the audience were extremely comfortable with the subject matter. 

I met with representatives of Release and we discussed drug use and the legal implications of a heroin addiction treatment room. 

That was followed by a lively debate in the House of Commons chamber on the roll out of Universal Credit. 

Friday — To round off Parliament week I attended Port Glasgow High School and St Stephen’s High School to take part in question and answers sessions from the pupils. 

I met with senior council officers from the health and social care partnerships. As we have budget cuts forced on us from the failed Tory austerity programme, nobody is put under more pressure than HSCP. 

I finished off the week with constituency casework.