HERE in Holyrood, we continue to gradually return to normal activity. The First Minister and her ministers are appointed. All that remains now is for the rest of us to be told which parliamentary committees we have been appointed to. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I will get the committees I asked for!

It is not, however, a return to normal work. Social distancing means that only a proportion of MSPs will be in the Parliament at any time. The rest will be working remotely. This is actually good for me, since it means I can increasingly meet either virtually or in person with constituents and businesses, using time during which I would be engaged at Parliament. I do not expect a full return to Parliament until September at the earliest.

During the election campaign, I emphasised the need to focus on jobs and the economy as we emerged from the pandemic into the cold, hard post-Brexit world. Our futures and the futures of our children depend on us navigating the storms ahead. While there are encouraging signs in many parts of the economy, I am deeply concerned about the hospitality industry, along with fishing and agriculture, which seem to have been thrown to the wolves in Brexit negotiations. There’s much work to be done and I know the Scottish Government is fully engaged in finding ways forward.

On June 7, I will be spending a half day with Riverside Medical Practice being briefed on their situation and seeing first-hand how they function. I hope to get a more in-depth understanding as to why this practice remains in difficulties far beyond those encountered by other GP practices. I promised the electorate I would find a solution to this intractable problem and I will, no matter what it takes.

On a more cheery note, I am hoping that at last we will see summer appear and that at least a few of our regular summer activities such as the galas and summer fetes will reappear in the coming weeks. It is important as we resume a degree of normality to support our community events.