My latest contribution in the Chamber of the House of Commons was to urge the Government to put right the injustice suffered by the ‘WASPI’ women.

As many as 3.8 million women, including about 6,800 were given the news that their state pension age was to increase from 60 to 66 just as they were about to retire, so too late for them to do any proper financial planning.

Many were already in ill health or worse, and others had taken early retirement with a plan to get by until age 60, when they thought they would receive their state pension and look forward to a reasonably comfortable retirement. The WASPI campaign continues.

Cumnock Chronicle: Allan Dorans MP with local WASPI Co-ordinators Frances Brown and Lynn PattersonAllan Dorans MP with local WASPI Co-ordinators Frances Brown and Lynn Patterson (Image: Submitted)

Earlier this month, I also spoke in a debate about former coal mining communities, highlighting the incredible hardships suffered by coal miners and paying tribute to the thirteen men who lost their lives in the the mining disasters at Knockshinnoch in 1950 and the four men who died in the Barony Colliery Disaster in 1962.

According to the 2020 Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, coalfield areas are still overrepresented among Scotland’s more disadvantaged communities. Of the 610 coalfield areas where data was gathered, 31% are among Scotland’s most deprived 20% but in the East Ayrshire part of Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock it was a shocking 40% in both 2016 and 2020.

I urged the Government to provide 'Levelling Up' or other specific funding for former mining communities, who continue to face shorter and less healthy lives marked by a lack of educational and employment opportunities.

I also pressed the Minister to implement the twelve recommendations of a recent APPG report to regenerate the former coal mining towns and villages in South and East Ayrshire which have been neglected for too long.

War Graves Week recently celebrated the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in managing, maintaining and preserving Commonwealth War Graves in 150 countries, including around 24 in Cumnock and New Cumnock cemeteries.

I was pleased to speak in the House of Commons to mark the important work of the Commission. Remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice is important for future generations.

This year is likely to be the last where veterans of D-Day itself are present and thus it becomes ever more important to honour their sacrifice by passing on knowledge to the next generation keeping their legacy alive.