After a prolonged absence due to being stuck on crutches, I was pleased to return to Westminster at the end of April.

It was a busy week, which included chairing an event on The Future of Vaccines to mark World Immunisation Week.

Those in attendance heard from global experts in their respective fields, looking at the development of the first malaria vaccines, the role vaccines can play in addressing antimicrobial resistance and, in light of the issues with the distribution of Covid vaccines, how to ensure equitable access to innovative vaccine technology across the world.

I was particularly pleased to welcome Dr Kirsty Roy from Public Health Scotland who spoke about their research showing the huge success of the HPV vaccine in preventing cervical cancer. We also touched on how vaccine technology could be used to prevent and potentially even treat cancers in the future.

In the Chamber I raised my concerns that, with the UK Government having defunded UNRWA, continuing to supply Israel with arms and, particularly, in defending Netanyahu’s polices, they are at risk of undermining International Humanitarian Law itself.

With Gaza’s healthcare system almost completely destroyed and the widespread starvation of her population, I am shocked at the complacency of the UK government with regards their complicity in potential war crimes.

Locally, I was delighted to visit the Nature Library based in one of the Maritime Museum shipyard worker's flats.

The project began as travelling pop-up library of works on land-use, climate, biodiversity and environment which appeared in public places across Scotland, but now has a permanent home at 122 Montgomery Street.

Along with public book borrowing, the library hopes to offer a regular programme of workshops and events, book clubs and writer/artist/research residencies.

It was lovely to meet with Christina, the curator, and discuss our mutual passion for public libraries and the important role they play in our communities. I wish her every success with the Nature Library, which is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10am - 4pm.

Also at the Maritime Museum, I was delighted to attend the opening of the Ship Ahoy event, where multiple exhibitors offered a wide range of exhibits, from nautically themed crafts to large working models of the Waverley and other steamships.

I am always impressed with the number of events and exhibitions the museum hosts, particularly the various workshops they organise during the school holidays, and it’s great to hear they are teaming up with the Irvine Clean Up Crew to celebrate World Ocean Day on June 8 with a beach clean in the morning; although, unfortunately, being on crutches means I can’t help out on this occasion.

There will also be a drop-in session at the museum in the afternoon with the opportunity to create posters with messages about protecting our oceans.

I would like to thank the members of the Ayrshire Parkinson’s Support Group who invited me to one of their recent meetings at Castlepark Community Church to talk about my time as an MP.

It was lovely to meet the group and have the chance to reflect on the past nine years, particularly how reconnecting with Medical Aid for Palestinians led me back to Gaza in 2016 after living and working there as a volunteer in the early 90s.

We also discussed the importance of good support services and the need for more research into Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases, which take such a toll on patients and their families.