New posts for MSPs

Fulton MacGregor has taken up a new appointment as parliamentary liaison officer to justice secretary Michael Matheson.

He said: “I’m pleased to have been given this opportunity by the First Minister and I very much look forward to working with the cabinet secretary.”

Parliamentary liaison officers are appointed by the First Minister following a cabinet secretar y ’ s recommendation; the role involves assisting the minister and working as a link between the Scottish Government and the parliament.

Mr MacGregor has also been appointed to both the justice and education & skills committees.

Joining the Coatbridge MSP on the 11- strong justice committee is Central Scotland representative Margaret Mitchell, of the Conservatives.

MSP Alex Neil will sit on the public audit committee; where his six colleagues will include regional list members Monica Lennon of Labour and Alison Harris of the Conservatives.

Mr Ma cG r e g o r ’ s constituency predecessor Elaine Smith, now a regional list member, will sit on both the delegated powers & law reform committee, and the local government & communities committee.

She will be joined on the latter by Graham Simpson, a fellow Central Scotland member.

Meanwhile, Labour regional representatives Richard Leonard and Mark Griffin have respectively been appointed to the economy, jobs & fair work committee and to the social security committee.