I REALISE I am in a very fortunate position of being elected to Parliament at a relatively young age and at the first time of standing. Most MPs have tried for years to get into Parliament and then try to make themselves stand out from the crowd to ensure both local and national press coverage. One of the methods for this is to launch a Private Member's Bill. This is when a backbench MP puts forward legislation which has the opportunity of passing through the full parliamentary process and ends up on the statute books.

Each year there is a long list of MPs putting their names forward seeking to grab one of the top seven spots in the Private Member's Bill list, as only these top spots have a realistic chance of becoming law. So, at my first attempt at putting my name forward, I am surprised that I came out in sixth place. This gives me a good chance, depending on what I choose to put forward, of getting some legislation on the books.

In fact, it was a great draw all round for the SNP, with my colleagues John Nicolson coming out in the top spot and Eilidh Whiteford following me in seventh place. I believe this is the best success the SNP has ever had in the Private Member's Bill process.

At the moment I have a few ideas on what issues are of major concern to me and which ones I think would benefit most from the Private Member's Bill process. However, I will also have to be aware of what issues both John and Eilidh pick up to ensure that we don’t end up falling over one another on the same or similar issues.

There are a number of considerations that also have to be taken into account. For instance, a bill which costs the Treasury a large sum of money – say, for instance, correcting the position on women’s pensions that has been driving the WASPI campaign – would likely be defeated as the Tory government whipped their MPs to ensure it didn’t get out of the starting blocks. Similarly, one which winds up too many Labour or other opposition members could end up falling before it reaches the statute books. Of course, there is the option of using this process simply to raise the profile of a specific issue – say, giving the Scottish Parliament the right to choose when a referendum on independence can be held.

However, in my opinion that may not be the best use of parliamentary time. Gaining a Private Member's Bill is something that happens very rarely for an MP. Therefore, in this instance, it may be better to look for an issue that could unite Parliament and deliver a genuine change for my constituents, no matter how small. If such an idea also had the benefit of not putting any pressure on the Treasury, then it would stand a better chance of receiving enough support to become a new law.

Almost as soon as the draw for a Private Member's Bill was made, my email was inundated with suggestions from other MPs and a wide range of organisations – each with their own idea that they wanted me to adapt and put forward in my name. It was interesting to see the speed at which these people moved but, in fairness to them, they have probably been supporting such causes for years and no doubt have been pestering everyone at the top of the draw to give them a better chance of seeing their ideas brought to life via a Private Member's Bill.

I am currently in the process of inviting constituents to email me with any issues they feel would best serve the constituency and could feasibly be delivered. I am taking stock of the ideas I’ve received and will see how they match up to my own ideas.

However, even getting as high as sixth in the list doesn’t guarantee success. Between 1997 and 2015 there were 1,977 Private Member's Bills but only 103 became law – and the vast majority of them were Bills supported by the government of the day.

There is currently a review into the system for Private Members’ Bills from the Parliament’s Standards Committee. There is a concern that such bills can easily be defeated, for instance, when certain members decide to "filibuster" – where MPs talk for so long they stop a vote taking place. Even the main day for these Bills is problematic as they usually take place on a Friday, which means that many MPs from outwith London have problems attending Parliament as that is a day usually reserved for working in the constituencies. I know from my own experience that I’d rather be in my constituency meeting voters and local organisations, not to mention carrying out my surgeries, than sat in Westminster waiting for the chance to vote on private Bills. Having fewer MPs in Parliament can result in just a handful of MPs talking out a Bill with their long-winded (and often tedious) filibustering. Also even if such Bills do get past the initial stages, without tacit government support it is sometimes difficult to get enough parliamentary time to make progress on a Bill. Hopefully the review by the Standards Committee will lead to some positive changes to increase the likelihood of a Private Member's Bill actually reaching the statute books.

As soon as the focus of my Private Member's Bill is decided, I’ll make sure readers of The National know.