14.05.2007
Following the election of Alex Fergusson MSP as the Scottish Parliament's Presiding Officer, a further secret ballot of Members saw Alasdair Morgan MSP and Trish Godman MSP elected as Deputy Presiding Officers.
Deputy Presiding Officer Alasdair Morgan MSP said:
"This is an exciting and challenging role. I am greatly looking forward to playing my part in the work of the third Parliament.”
Deputy Presiding Officer Trish Godman MSP commented:
"I am delighted to be re-elected and thank colleagues for the support they've given me. I know we will all three work hard to make this next Parliament a success."
Biographies
Alasdair Morgan MSP
Scottish National Party MSP for South of Scotland, Alasdair Morgan was born on 21 April 1945 in Aberfeldy.
Educated at Breadalbane Academy, Aberfeldy he went on to study at Glasgow University and thereafter through the Open University.
Mr Morgan was a teacher from 1971 to 1974 before pursuing a career in the IT sector. He has worked for Shell, Fife Regional Council and West Lothian Council.
Alasdair is married with two daughters. His main hobby is hill walking.
He was elected as Member of Parliament for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale at the 1997 General Election and was a member of the Trade and Industry Select Committee. He stood down from Westminster in 2001 to concentrate on his work in the Scottish Parliament.
In 1999 Alasdair was also elected to represent Galloway and Upper Nithsdale in the Scottish Parliament. In May 2003 he was elected as a regional member for the South of Scotland.
Alasdair was a Member of the Parliamentary Bureau from September 2005 to April 2007.
Scottish Parliament Committee membership
Convener - Justice and Home Affairs Committee ( 28 September 2000 - 07 January 2001 )
Convener - Justice 1 Committee ( 08 January 2001 - 29 August 2001 )
Member - Finance Committee ( 06 September 2001 - 31 March 2003 )
Member - Justice and Home Affairs Committee ( 28 September 2000 - 07 January 2001 )
Member - National Galleries of Scotland Bill Committee ( 05 December 2002 - 26 March 2003 )
Member - Rural Affairs Committee ( 17 June 1999 - 01 November 2000 ) and Deputy Convener from 18 January 2000 - 01 November 2000 .
Substitute Member - Rural Development Committee (16 May 2002 - 31 March 2003)
Convener - Enterprise and Culture Committee ( 11 June 2003 - 13 September 2004 )
Substitute Member - Standards Committee ( 03 September 2003 - 18 March 2005 ) and subsequently Standards and Public Appointments Committee ( 18 March 2005 - 02 April 2007 )
Member - Subordinate Legislation Committee ( 24 September 2003 - 22 September 2004 )
Member - Edinburgh Tram (Line Two) Bill Committee ( 27 October 2004 - 27 April 2006 )
Deputy Convener - Finance Committee ( 28 September 2004 - 14 September 2005 )
Deputy Convener - Ad Hoc Standards Committee ( 09 June 2005 - 20 June 2005 )
Deputy Convener - Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill Committee ( 28 June 2006 - 02 April 2007 )
Trish Godman MSP
Scottish Labour Party MSP for West Renfrewshire, Trish Godman was born on 13 October 1939 in Govan, Glasgow.
Educated at St Gerard’s Senior Secondary School, Glasgow, she left school at 15 and undertook a variety of jobs including bank clerk, shop assistant, works-cashier and insurance collector.
Ms Godman subsequently qualified in Social Work at Jordanhill College of Education, Glasgow and worked as a Social Worker in the East End of Glasgow for 15 years.
Elected Regional Councillor on Strathclyde Regional Council, she then served on Glasgow City Council until elected Member of the Scottish Parliament for West Renfrewshire in 1999 and was re-elected in 2003 and 2007.
Trish is a single mother of three sons and has five grandchildren. Her personal interests include the tending of her allotment where she grows her own vegetables, soft fruit and flowers.
Trish Godman served as Deputy Presiding Officer from 2003-2007 and was also a member of the Parliamentary Bureau during that session.
Scottish Parliament Committee membership
Member - Subordinate Legislation Committee ( 17 June 1999 - 07 January 2001 )
Convener - Local Government Committee ( 30 June 1999 - 31 March 2003 )
Substitute Member - Procedures Committee ( 26 September 2002 - 31 March 2003 )
Member - Baird Trust Reorganisation Bill Committee ( 16 March 2005 - 19 July 2005 )
Member - Ad Hoc Standards Committee ( 02 June 2005 - 20 June 2005 )
Convener - Ad Hoc Standards Committee ( 09 June 2005 - 20 June 2005 )
Substitute Member - Environment and Rural Development Committee ( 30 June 2005 - 02 April 2007 )
Background
The elections of the Scottish Parliament's Presiding Officer and two Deputy Presiding Officers are the only secret ballots conducted in the Scottish Parliament.
In May 2003, George Reid became Scottish Parliament’s second Presiding Officer and Murray Tosh and Trish Godman were elected as Deputy Presiding Officers.
In May 1999, Sir David Steel became the Scottish Parliament's first Presiding Officer, and Patricia Ferguson and George Reid were elected as Deputy Presiding Officers. Murray Tosh took over as Deputy Presiding Officer from Patricia Ferguson in November 2001.