Dave Thompson MSP

It is welcome news that the operator of the CairnGorm Mountain snowsports centre has unveiled its planned revamp of the site.

I commend the plans to make Cairngorm Mountain a destination for all. A new day lodge with food outlets, shops, a crèche, and an adventure zone is proposed, which will go some way to improving the customer experience throughout the year.

As Convener of the Cross Party Group on Skin and Associated Rheumatic Conditions, I was delighted to sponsor the Psoriasis Scotland (PSALV) awareness event in the Scottish Parliament.

The work of PSALV is essential in raising awareness of Psoriatic Arthritis and of its impact upon those affected.

I wish PSALV all the best going forward in all the great work that they do and hope the event itself went some way to raising awareness of the prevalence of Skin and Associated Rheumatic Conditions in our society.

I purchased an eco-friendly electric car in an effort to do my bit, however small, for the environment and I am looking forward to collecting it in the coming weeks. There are fast (22kw) and rapid (50kw) charge points in the Highlands and I am particularly pleased to note that there is a rapid charge point in Aviemore, so I have no excuse for not being in the area over the winter months.

It was pleasing to show my support for the UN gender equality ‘HeforShe’ campaign. The campaign seeks to build solidarity amongst men for women’s equality as a basic human right that benefits all of society.

The campaign asks men across the world to sign the HeForShe Commitment, which commits them to standing up against discrimination and violence against women and has already been signed by almost 480,000 men across the world including the Presidents of the USA, Japan and Malawi.

Women make up more than half of the world’s population, yet women and girls across the world still face stark inequalities, discrimination and violence simply because of their gender, so both genders, must stand together against this injustice.

Recent polling has shown that the SNP remains on course to win a second historic landslide in next May's Holyrood election.

The survey for TNS showed that 58% intend to back the SNP in the constituency vote, which is up two points on last month. Labour are on course to get 24%, the Conservatives on 12% and Liberal Democrats struggling at 4%. This is astonishing polling for SNP after two terms in Government, but we must never be complacent, which is why I will be fighting hard for every vote in the lead up to the Scottish Elections in 2016 and why the SNP will always stand up for Scotland.