Welfare and benefit related issues are the most common problems raised with me at my constituency surgeries.

Universal Credit is the flagship welfare policy for the Tory UK Government and is due to be rolled out across Renfrewshire in September. This is causing alarm for local people as there have been multiple problems highlighted during the phased rollout of this new and discredited benefit.

I recently visited Renfrew Job Centre to speak to local staff and area leaders about their preparations for the rollout.

Whilst the issues with Universal Credit have been widely publicised, it was encouraging to hear the staff are learning from previous rollouts to try to make the process easier. I will be arranging to meet again with the Job Centre later this year to find out how this process has gone.

During this meeting, I was able to hear about what support is in place for vulnerable customers and for people with mental health difficulties, as it’s absolutely vital that anybody in these groups is given all the support they need.

It’s important to differentiate any dislike for Government policies from the hard-working staff on the ground who have to deliver the policies that the UK Government set, whether they are popular or not.

I thank Rhona and the team for the warm welcome and very thorough briefing session.

In other matters, the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival is taking place from May 7 to 27. This year’s event will have a significant focus on young people as research shows that 50% of adult mental health problems begin in early life.

Renfrewshire has always been a key partner of the festival and I’m delighted that there are events happening across Renfrewshire.

Mental health problems affect about one in 10 young people and can manifest in different ways, including depression, anxiety and conduct disorder.

It’s clear we need to do more to help young people who are suffering from poor mental health, particularly as 70 per cent of young people who experience poor mental health have not had appropriate interventions at an early age.

I trust that the events taking place in Renfrewshire will shed a light on this important issue.

A couple of weeks ago, alongside SNP colleagues George Adam MSP and the Transport Secretary Humza Yousaf MSP, I also joined EasyJet at Glasgow Airport for an event showcasing their new aircraft the Airbus A320neo.

I’ve always had a keen interest in aviation, so it was fantastic to be able to speak with the base pilot about the significant environmental and operational benefits that the new Airbus will bring.

It’s important that the aviation industry continues to challenge itself to reduce the levels of both CO2 emissions and noise pollution.

The new Airbus will bring a 15 per cent reduction in CO2 output, which is very much welcome, but the even bigger engineering feat is the 50 per cent reduction in noise on take-off and landing, which represents a huge leap forward for the industry.

I congratulate Airbus for this innovation and, as a resident who lives near the airport, I look forward to the reduced noise levels in years to come – and to being a passenger on the new, quieter Airbus.