Last week, your SNP MSP for Cunninghame South: Took evidence from a range of people about the attainment and achievement of school pupils experiencing poverty   Raised the future of the Ardeer peninsula with the Minister for Local Government and Housing   Called on the UK Government to devolve the necessary powers to allow for... Continue Reading →

This recess, Ruth: Held surgeries in Cranberry Moss community centre and Dreghorn,  Bourtreehill, and Kilwining libraries   Met with Stevenston environmental activists to discuss action to tackle litter pollution   Championed the benefits of outdoor play on Call Kaye, Newsdrive, and Scotland Tonight   Took part in a River tidy with Irvine Clean Crew  ... Continue Reading →

This week, Ruth: Met with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and Citizens Advice Scotland to discuss inclusive communication in Scotland’s new social security system   Chaired a roundtable event focused on the initial findings of research by the Health Foundation into Young People’s Future Health Prospects   Attended an event on the... Continue Reading →

Held MSP Advice Surgeries at Beattie Library and Fullarton Community Hub   Highlighted that widening access is about more than just getting in the door and called on universities to prioritise retention and achievement   Took part in a debate welcoming the potential for increased turnout and engagement that could be delivered by electronic and... Continue Reading →

This week, Ruth: Voted for the historic EU Continuity (Scotland) Bill to protect Scotland’s Parliament from a Westminster Tory power-grab   Concluded Stage 2 scrutiny of the Social Security (Scotland) Bill   On Education Committee, voted to extend continuing care for care leavers until the age of 20  

This week, Ruth: Held MSP advice surgeries at Bourtreehill and Kilwinning libraries   In Education Committee, took evidence from the Commissioner for Fair Access on widening access to education. Ruth asked about the retention of students once they get to university   Continued detailed scrutiny of the Social Security (Scotland) Bill at Stage 2. The... Continue Reading →

This week, Ruth: Held MSP advice surgeries at Beattie Library in Stevenson and Fullarton Community Centre in Irvine   Joined First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, in debating the centenary of women’s right to vote   Continued detailed scrutiny of the Social Security (Scotland) Bill at Stage 2   Supported Safer Internet Day 2018 and spoke in... Continue Reading →

This week, Ruth: Amended the Social Security (Scotland) Bill to enshrine in it the principle of inclusive communication   Held MSP advice surgeries in Kilwinning and Dreghorn   Led focus groups of secondary school students on behalf of Holyrood’s Education Committee   Supported Hijab Awareness Day 2018, supporting a woman’s right to express her religious... Continue Reading →