An interesting week here as the local government committee reported back on their investigation into whether our First Minister Alex Salmond interfered with the planning process on the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire.

During the debate on the report (which you should be able to read on the Official Report soon at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/index.htm, it became clear that the investigation had been a bit of a witch-hunt and not really a suitable use of tax-payers’ money.  The SNP contributions made it clear that our MSPs had looked at the evidence and concluded that there was nothing in that evidence to suggest that there had been any wrongdoing at all, the others strained at the limits of believability in an effort to try to make some mud stick.

Wednesday night was far more congenial.  I was the host for the Microsoft Awards won by organisations across Scotland – it was a lovely evening and it was delightful to have met so many wonderful and worthy winners.  I have lots of photographs in my camera but haven’t had a chance to download them yet – I’ll do that soon and I’ll post them for you next week.

Earlier on Wednesday, we’d been in the Education Committee and taking a second week’s evidence on the school estate.  One after another witnesses told us that the PFI and PPP models of funding for public services were deleterious to the public purse, costing a fortune and not delivering a lot.  We’ll be reporting on this, no doubt, and I’ll be seeking to make sure that the report reflects the evidence – Scotland deserves better than it’s getting.

Still, education was more entertaining than Standards and Procedures which I sat through on Tuesday – we’re reforming the Standing Orders just now and it isn’t quite the most enervating thing to be doing, but I’m glad that Keith Brown is driving the committee forward – he’s a good convenor.

It was straight back to Hamilton at night for an I Exist event highlighting the needs of autistic people.  Some things open your eyes to the problems other people face in their daily lives and sometimes it’s quite humbling.  I’ll maybe take the time at some other point to talk more about this.

I’m having to cut the diary a wee bit short just now because I’ve got a swanky do to go to up the road at the castle – myself and Alex Salmond are at an event for FEBA who support ex-servicemen.  I’ll tell you more about that later, too.