Bob Doris MSP. Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn Constituency. PARLIAMENTARY REPORT. Page 1: IN OUR COMMUNITY. New Story: FIRE SERVICE PROVISION. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is reviewing its operations across the country. I welcome the proposal to reinstate a second fire appliance at Maryhill station — a positive step for local safety and something I have called for. However, the review may potentially see the removal of a second fire appliance at Springburn station. I do not support this option and I am making representations seeking to ensure Springburn retains both its fire appliances. New Story: MARYHILL CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS. I continue to work to tackle the blight caused by derelict buildings on Maryhill Road, including the Maryhill Tavern and The Redan. Slow progress has been frustrating. I am assured there remains strong partnership working between Maryhill Housing and Glasgow City Council to acquire the site for development using a Compulsory Purchase Order if required. This is part of wider development plans. Further details on new and affordable housing in the area, including at The Valley (around Collina) and the vacant land off Shiskine Drive will be made available very soon. New Story: WYNDFORD REGENERATION. £100million plans for Wyndford to deliver over 380 new homes, 85% for social rent and 15% for affordable mid-market rent continues at pace. The safe demolition of three high flats was a real landmark moment. I continue to engage closely with both Wheatley Homes Glasgow and Glasgow City Council on these plans. Proposals will also see over 40% of the new homes have three bedrooms or more. Investment will include a new play park, more green spaces, bike storage and improved CCTV. There will also be a new community facility, with a new build Maryhill Hub. New Story: IMPROVING OUR RAILWAY. I welcome the progress being made at Springburn station, with plans for a path to the college. I met with stakeholders last year, hopefully this will be the first part of significant improvements at the station. I also welcome the new half-hourly daytime Saturday service on the Maryhill Line which will be starting next year. I have long called for a better service on the line - I will continue to work with ScotRail to improve the service seven days a week. I supported the Scottish Government’s announcement to abolish peak time rail fares - something that will help all commuters. Page 2: IN THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT. New Story: PALLIATIVE CARE. I continue to work on expanding palliative care services, particularly for those approaching end of life. I chair the Cross Party Group on Palliative Care and working closely with organisations such as Marie Curie. I made successful representations to the Scottish Government for more funding for the hospice sector, to help hospices match NHS pay. Consequently the Scottish Government were able to increase funding to hospices by £5million. New Story: MESH SURVIVORS. I continue to work with constituents who are survivors of inappropriate mesh implants and botched mesh removal, seeking to secure both improved treatment and compensation for survivors. This follows a report from England’s Patient Safety Commissioner, Dr Henrietta Hughes, for the UK Government. I also secured a meeting for survivors with the Scottish Government. Our work continues. New Story: LAND REFORM. The Scottish Government’s Land Reform (Scotland) Bill will requirement large landowners to produce land management plans to show their responsible management of land. I considered the maximum fine on land owners to be too small, just £5,000 for non-compliance. I have amended the legislation to increase the maximum fine to £50,000. The legislation will also seek to reduce the scale and concentration of land ownership to better benefit communities. New Story: NEWBORN BABY SCREENING SUCCESS. Following my extensive representations to the Scottish Government (and strong partnership working with campaigners), our Scottish NHS is to screen newborn babies for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) from early 2026. Early diagnosis leads to early treatment and this change will be truly transformative. More information can be found at www.bob-doris.scot/sma New Story: EPIDERMOLYSIS BULLOSA (EB). I am seeking to boost treatment for those living with skin conditions, particularly those living with EB. In partnership with EB charity DEBRA, we want to improve treatment, and secure research and clinical trials to repurpose existing treatments for other conditions. Page 3: TACKLING CHILD POVERTY. Earlier this year I spoke in a debate in Parliament about Tackling Child Poverty and Inequality. I recognised eradicating child poverty remains one of the most urgent missions for the Scottish Government. In that debate, I was able to highlight the real challenges families in Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn have with policies such as the UK Government’s two-child benefit cap. One striking local example was a father grieving for the loss of his child’s mum having to give up work and being told he would not be offered adequate support for his children because of the UK two-child cap. I support the Scottish Government budgets to fund plans to fully mitigate the impacts of the UK Government’s two-child benefit cap by 2026. Those budgets also continue to fund the Scottish Child Payment, worth £27.15 per eligible child per week, which has helped to prevent 100,000 children in Scotland falling into poverty. I am pleased to see both relative and absolute child poverty rates fall between 2022–23 and 2023–24, now sitting nine percentage points below the UK average. This is a significant achievement, especially as forecasts say child poverty will rise in other parts of the UK by 2029. Any constituent who wishes to apply or know more can visit www.mygov.scot/benefits or call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222. New Story: SUMMERSTON AT FIFTY. I was joined by a number of local residents in Parliament as I led a debate to recognise the 50th anniversary of Summerston. Those present were members of the Summerston Community and Environmental Group (SCEG). The environmental challenges faced by Summerston are clear. However SCEG’s hands-on approach to improving the local environment and fostering community pride has been remarkable. The debate also remembered the late Billy Souter, a wellloved person whose legacy of community service and kindness continues to inspire. His contributions, like those of so many others, make Summerston the vibrant, welcoming neighbourhood we know today. Page 4: OFF-ROAD VEHICLES. I continue to work with Police Scotland regarding the dangers of the misuse of ‘off-road’ vehicles in our constituency. I acknowledge there are responsible users but unfortunately others are not. This can be a major nuisance to communities and a very real danger. There are also significant dangers from illegally modified e-bikes and scooters. We have tragically witnessed fatalities and serious injuries in north Glasgow. I raised the matter in the Scottish Parliament to see how we can support Police Scotland and others to encourage responsible usage, as well as take whatever enforcement action is possible. A task force has been established to look at the actions that can be taken. The Scottish Government have written to the UK Government to seek to work together on this matter. I also secured a summer awareness campaign, supported by Crimestoppers, to try and educate riders. I believe that the law must change in this area, at a UK and Scottish level. I continue to make representations and I’m keen to hear any suggestions, comments or ideas constituents may have. New Story: MAKING VOTES COUNT. I have secured a law change to tackle issues surrounding spoiled ballot papers. I amended The Scottish Elections (Representation & Reform) Bill to place a statutory obligation on the Electoral Commission to address such issues as part of their strategy. I am now working with the Commission to establish what this will mean in practice. My thanks to Cllrs Jacqueline McLaren and Allan Gow on their partnership work on this successful campaign. The highest percentage of (unintended) spoiled papers at the last council elections was in Canal Ward, within our constituency - three times the national average. Irrespective of who the electorate casts their votes for, those votes must count. I very much hope this law change will make a difference. New Story: Remembering Hiroshima. I was with the Lord Provost and the Japanese Consulate-General at the new Peace Gardens in the Botanic Gardens marking the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bomb. A poignant reminder of the horrors of nuclear war. New Story: Cadder Gala Day. It was a pleasure to attend the recent Cadder Gala Day, one of several fantastic gala days over the summer. One of the highlights is always catching up with local groups, including the knitting group from Lambhill Stables. New Story: Kelvindale Euroquiz Success. I recently visited Kelvindale Primary School to congratulate students on their third place finish in the national final of Euroquiz 2025. Quite an achievement, given there were 560 teams entering. Well done everyone. FINAL PAGE. GET IN TOUCH. It is a privilege to represent our communities across Maryhill and Springburn as our local Member of the Scottish Parliament. If I can help in any way, please do get in touch. Telephone 0141 946 7700 Text relay calls welcome. Email office@bob-doris.scot Online www.bob-doris.scot/contact Or, write to me at Maryhill Burgh Halls, 10-24 Gairbraid Avenue, Glasgow, G20 8YE Follow my work on Social Media @BobDorisSNP The costs of this publication have been met from parliamentary resources. The Scottish Parliament Corporate Body is not responsible for the content of external websites. END OF PUBLICATION