Parliamentary Activities

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Marie is currently a member of the following Scottish Parliament committees:

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• Social Justice and Social Security Committee 

• Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

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Marie was formerly a member of the following Scottish Parliament committees:

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• Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

 

Marie is also a member of the following cross-party groups: 

 

• Animal Welfare

• Towns and Town Centres

• Palliative Care

 

Since Marie’s election, she has been a strong voice for her constituents, raising their issues in Parliament, taking part in ministerial question times, and contributing in debates. She is also keen to recognise the success of local people, schools, organisations, and businesses. Over the years, she has submitted hundreds of Parliamentary Motions to recognise various achievements within the constituency, with them often gaining cross-party support from across the chamber.

 

Clydebank has a long history with asbestos as a result of its industrial past. Many big businesses, such as Turners Asbestos Cement Company, Singer Sewing Factory, and John Brown’s Engineering and Shipbuilding, all operated in the town between 1938 and 1970, with asbestos being heavily used for many years. 

 

Consequently, Clydebank has seen many cases of mesothelioma, a type of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibres, and it begins to grow in the lining of certain organs. At one point, the town was known as the mesothelioma capital of Europe due to it having the highest death rates. 

 

From Marie’s time at St Margaret’s, she witnessed first-hand how these types of cancer took away so many too soon. Marie had many heart-breaking conversations about the impact of mesothelioma with patients who were at the end stage of the disease, including women who said that they had been exposed to asbestos simply because of their cleanliness, through cleaning their husbands’ overalls.

 

Given the pain and suffering that Mesothelioma had inflicted on Marie’s constituents, she has led two Members Debate in Parliament to recognise Action Mesothelioma Day and highlight the continued need for research into the management and treatment of this condition. She also praised the longstanding work of Clydebank Asbestos Group. 

 

The debate was very successful and heard contributions from various political parties. Marie has continued to campaign on this matter.

 

As well as campaigning on social justice Marie cares passionately about the environment and is a regular volunteer with Milngavie in Bloom and Bearsden in Bloom who work to improve the local environment.