The Health Service is an important and treasured pillar in our society and we are privileged to have a service that is still free at the point of need. As such, it is important that the service works effectively when it is required and that its effectiveness is, quite rightly, monitored by politicians.

The Scottish Parliament has returned from summer recess and it has been straight down to business as MSPs last week debated the Programme for Government, put forward by the First Minister and her Cabinet. The Programme includes proposed new legislation, in line with our Manifesto commitments, that will help us build a more prosperous nation with a dynamic, sustainable and inclusive economy.

A cursory glance at the work the Government is actually “getting on with,” even whilst Parliament is in recess, shows these demands up for what they are: lazy, unconstructive, carping from the side-lines.

Just over a month after the EU Referendum and, whilst the full impact of UK decision to leave the European Union is still sinking in for politicians, for many organisations that depend on EU funding there is great uncertainty.

“A week is a long time in politics!” As a description of how quickly things can change on the political landscape this popular saying seems woefully inadequate, given the ongoing fall out from the EU Referendum result. Every day in the past two weeks seemed to bring another twist and turn to further complicate an unsettling situation.