TODAY marks the start of Volunteers Week (1-7 June) – so I want to begin my column by thanking all those who give up their time to support local projects and charities.

Volunteers are the backbone of our third sector and in Inverclyde we’re fortunate to have a fantastic third sector network that work in partnership to deliver positive change.

The role that third sector organisations played throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and now during this cost of living scandal highlights just how vital they are to society.

Being a volunteer can, at times, be hard work but it is so rewarding. There are so many ways to volunteer, meaning there’s a way for everyone to get involved that aligns with their skills and interests.

If you’re not currently a volunteer but think this is something you’d like to explore, I’d strongly encourage you to reach out to local organisations or to contact CVS Inverclyde for volunteering opportunities. Once again, thank you to all of Inverclyde’s volunteers.

Moving onto my activities in the parliament this week, on Tuesday I spoke in Keith Brown MSP’s Member’s Debate on Protecting Devolution and the Scottish Parliament.

Opening the debate, Mr Brown highlighted the UK Government’s increasing disrespect for the devolved arrangement and recent pattern of attacks on devolution – including the use of an order under section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 to veto devolved legislation, and the regular breaches of the Sewel Convention by the UK Government.

Mr Brown also made the case that the undemocratic claw backs from the UK Tory government when it comes to devolved areas in Scotland underline the vulnerability of the Scottish Parliament.

In my speech, I pointed out the irony of a Conservative administration behaving in one way towards Europe and appearing to do the opposite in Scotland.

We have a Tory Scottish Secretary who is acting like a Governor-General – most recently using post-Brexit powers to sabotage Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme.

While I myself raised concerns about how DRS was being proposed in Scotland, as waste and recycling are devolved policy areas, it was a matter for the Scottish Parliament to address.

What’s more, for Alastair Jack to claim that blocking Scottish gender reforms – legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament – is a ‘defence of devolution’ is utterly ludicrous.

With the limited powers of devolution, the Scottish Parliament has been able to make a difference.

Protecting free tuition fees, free prescriptions, and free eye tests; expanding free childcare to 1140 hours and introducing the Scottish Child Payment are just some examples of how we can take decisions that have the interests of the people of Scotland at its heart.

The Scottish Government, the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish people need more powers, not fewer.