Cyber attack
The targeting of NHS Dumfries and Galloway by computer hackers brings home what a growing threat these incidents pose in modern life.
There has been some concern amongst constituents about the implications of this cyber attack on the IT system and the extent of any data and personal information that may have been accessed.
I’m grateful to the local NHS for regular updates and I understand it remains important that staff and the wider public report to police any suspicious approaches they receive online or by other means which reference previously confidential information.
It is reassuring that the local NHS state that patient services are, in general, running normally and I hope that remains the case and any lessons that are learned are taken on board.
The UK Government’s National Cyber Security Centre, part of GCHQ, has offered full support and is liasing closely with NHS Scotland and the police.
A75 mission
I was grateful to parliamentary colleague, Lord Davies of Gower, Maritime and Security Minister at the UK Department of Transport, for making a recent trip north to travel along the A75.
He was particularly pleased to see for himself the neighbouring villages of Crocketford and Springholm where a mixture of often heavy local and long-distance trunk road traffic passes through their heart.
Both villages are, not surprisingly, a focus for the £8 million UK Government - funded route improvements feasibility study currently at a preliminary stage.
Lord Davies, with his maritime responsibility, later met with senior Stena Line Irish Sea manager Andy Kane at the Port of Cairnryan, who had been working closely with the South West Scotland Transport Alliance, which is seeking improvements to both the A75 and A77.
Improving connectivity on both roads is vital to the future of the Loch Ryan ferry services to Northern Ireland as well as securing wider economic and road safety progress across the constituency.
Lord Davies acknowledges that a time-table for improvements on the A75 is needed as soon as possible and will require a continued healthy dialogue and co-operative working partnership between the UK and the Scottish Government, which has devolved roads responsibility, to ensure progress.
School visit
I had a particularly enjoyable constituency visit recently when I attended Dalbeattie Primary School to give a talk and answer questions on politics and the UK Parliament.
The bright and breezy modern school building provided an excellent setting for the creative pupils with inquisitive minds who asked some well thought out questions.
As a former pupil at the old primary school building for part of my education, I felt a personal connection and greatly appreciated the invitation to meet some of today’s pupils and staff at the newer site.