It’s been a busy couple of weeks back at Parliament following Easter recess – and it’s been even busier here in the Renfrewshire South constituency.

I was delighted to host my first Barrhead jobs fair at the Foundry, following on from a successful Johnstone jobs fair I co-hosted earlier this year with my colleague Mhairi Black MP.

Just as in Johnstone, there was a great turnout and a big selection of employers.

I’m hugely grateful to everyone who helped to organise the event, including the fantastic job centre staff and all at the Foundry.

If you weren’t able to make it along, don’t worry – planning is already under way for the next one in the autumn.

There was also good news last week for residents in Boylestone and across Barrhead as East Renfrewshire Council rejected proposals to build houses on the Fereneze Braes.

Constituents first contacted my office over these proposals last year and I wrote to the council several times to make sure their concerns were heard.

Having attended Cross Arthurlie Primary and grown up close to the Fereneze Braes, where I often went exploring as a wee boy, I know how valued this site is.

The decision by the council is a huge victory for the local community and testament to the great work of the Save Fereneze campaign.

It’s important that this decision is respected and the future of the Braes is secured.

Through in Edinburgh, I’ve been kept busy in Parliament. I was delighted to be appointed Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs.

This role involves assisting members of the government and engaging with other parliamentarians and external organisations. It’s an honour to have been given the position by the First Minister and I’m very much looking forward to undertaking it.

Staying on matters Holyrood, I was sad to leave the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee after an enjoyable and interesting six months of work. However, I’m now being kept very busy in my new role as a member of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee.

This is one of the Parliament’s lesser known committees but one of its most important and technical. It’s also going to be one of the busiest, as a consequence of the UK leaving the EU.

Having now seen first-hand just how complex and damaging exiting the European Union will be, I’m more convinced than ever that Brexit is the greatest act of self-harm that the UK has committed in recent history.

Finally, last week marked two years since I was elected as MSP for Renfrewshire South, the Scottish Parliament constituency that takes in Barrhead, Neilston and Uplawmoor.

To be not only the MSP for my home town of Barrhead but to be the first, and so far only, person actually from Barrhead to represent the town in any Parliament is a particular honour.

However, I should say that I’m not the first Arthur to be politically active in Barrhead, as my great-grandfather William Arthur was secretary of Barrhead Tenants Association and helped to lead rent strikes in the town between the wars.