You may be aware that I recently spoke in Parliament on behalf of former Digital employees, highlighting the failure of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (formerly Digital, Compaq and Hewlett Packard) to increase pre-1997 service pensions of former employees in line with the cost of living.

In 2001, Hewlett Packard took advantage of the then UK pension legislation and decided not to provide any discretionary annual pension increase.

It is hardly a question of affordability: Hewlett Packard’s chief executive was paid $1.3 million in 2023 and got a bonus of almost $2m and $5.7m in stock options. Shareholders got $1bn in dividends that year.

In Parliament I urged the Minister for Pensions to implement the recommendations of the House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee.

The UK Government’s response has been to pass the buck and the issue is now in the hands of the DWP but be assured I will continue to highlight and support this issue, which affects around 1,500 people in and around Ayr.

I also spoke in the ‘WASPI’ debate. As many as 3.8 million women, including about 6,800 in my constituency, were given the news that their state pension age was to increase from 60 to 66 just as they were about to retire, so too late for them to do any proper financial planning.

Many were already in ill health or worse, and others had taken early retirement with a plan to get by until age 60, when they thought they would receive their state pension and look forward to a reasonably comfortable retirement. The WASPI campaign continues.

War Graves Week recently celebrated the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in managing, maintaining and preserving Commonwealth War Graves in 150 countries, including 219 in Ayr Cemetery.

I was pleased to speak in the House of Commons to mark the important work of the commission and highlight the exceptional work done by Lorna and Richie Connaghan of the Girvan and District Great War Project.

Remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice is important for future generations. and the War Graves Commission have organised a free walk round Ayr Cemetery on June 6.

This year is likely to be the last where veterans of D-Day itself are present and thus it becomes ever more important to honour their sacrifice by passing on knowledge to the next generation keeping their legacy alive.

I also had the privilege of laying a floral tribute at the new commemorative bench provided by South Ayrshire Council in Rozelle Park, Ayr to mark Workers' Memorial Day, an internationally observed, annual day of remembrance for workers killed, disabled, injured, or suffered physical or mental illness as a result of their work.