Parliamentary Contributions

Oral Contributions:

• 01.09 – Borders and Asylum Debate – I called for the Ukrainian refugee visa scheme to be extended, and I also urged the government to do all it can to facilitate travel for Gazan students (offer-holders) and injured children desperately in need of treatment.
• 01.09 – Lisbon Maru Memorial – I highlighted a similar case (the Suez Maru) which was recently brought to my attention by relatives of the men who died, who came to visit my constituency office.
• 03.09 – Pavement Parking – I highlighted the success of the ban in Edinburgh and called for the Minister to introduce a ban in England.
• 03.09 – Property Taxes – I intervened to defend our record, noting that many of the economic issues (high bond yields) we currently face were inherited from the previous government, and are also dependent on global factors beyond the government’s control.

Written Questions Answered :

• Wealth: Taxation – impact of wealth taxes abroad
• Driving Licences: Health – DVLA’s planned timeframe for introducing a new system to process medical cases
• Fuels: Excise Duties – the cost of maintaining a freeze on fuel duty
• War Pensions: Staff – staffing levels for war pensions administration
• Veterans: Homelessness – supporting homeless veterans
• State Retirement Pensions: Tax Thresholds – will thresholds go up with increases in state pension?
• State Retirement Pensions: Tax Thresholds – impact of tax threshold freeze on pensioner poverty
• Undocumented Workers: Edinburgh – stopping employers from hiring illegal immigrants
• Syria: Politics and Government – steps to support peace in Syria
• European Company for the Financing of Railroad Rolling Stock – merits of the EUROFIMA scheme
• Sewers – when will schedule 3 of the Flood Act be enacted?

EDMs Published :

• Commemoration of the sinking of the Suez Maru and Allied prisoners of war lost
• Opening of Ravelrig RDA’s new indoor riding arena
• Celebrating the achievements of Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust in enhancing community well-being and the environment
• Celebrating Colinton Primary School achieving an Eco-Schools Scotland Green Flag Award
• Celebrating the completion of the Cuddies Lane mural in Colinton
• The opening of the House of Hope in Edinburgh South West constituency

Media Mentions:

• I was featured in the Daily Record discussing the Scottish Government’s refusal to ban energy drinks for under-16s – SNP refuse to back ban on energy drinks for kids after Labour Government crackdown
• I was featured in this Greenpeace blog (two constituents share their thoughts from out meeting down in Westminster) – We can’t leave getting involved to someone else”: Greenpeace volunteers meet their MPs
• I received a mention in the Evening News – Former Edinburgh police station to be transformed into a new community centre in Balerno after plans approved
• I featured in a story in deadline news, discussing the prospect of a phone ban in schools – Edinburgh MP writes to council to raise constituents’ views on phone ban in schools

One to watch:

• Next week I will be sharing constituent’s stories in the Westminster Hall Debate on the Qualifying Period for Indefinite Leave to Remain