I HAD the opportunity to sponsor the Scottish Parliamentary reception in conjunction with ARC Scotland, a charity organisation based in Dalkeith.

The event welcomed the publication of The Principles of Good Transitions 3 which introduces seven principles that are meant to inform and encourage support for young adults with additional needs.

The speakers included Maureen Watt, the Minister responsible for Mental Health in the Scottish Government, who spoke in respect of her take on this important issue.

I believe that these principles will provide a solid framework for providing Scotland’s young people with the means to become grounded and well-adjusted adults, and I look forward to seeing their implementation.

Back to Brexit, and the Supreme Court’s decision that the Tory Government has to allow Westminster MPs a democratic vote on triggering Article 50 is unsurprising. I really don’t know why the Tories opted to appeal.

While the Supreme Court ruled that it was not legally written into the constitution that devolved governments, such as ours, need be included in the enactment of Article 50, there should be a democratic political requirement to do just that.

With the Sewel Convention, Westminster said that we would be treated as an equal partner in decisions such as this, but has that happened? No. It is becoming increasingly apparent that these promises are worthless.

Rest assured that SNP MPs and the Scottish Government will do all we can to stop this measure that will likely see Scotland taken out of the EU against our democratic will.

Locally, it was good to hear that ScotRail has agreed to send representatives to a public meeting to discuss the East Lothian train service. Constituents will have a chance to engage directly with ScotRail and make it clear just how bad the service has been. I’m sure we all want to hear what steps they’re taking.