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A
Bein
for
the
closing
speeches
on
Thursday
now,
the
next
item
of
business
this
afternoon
is
a
debate
on
motion.
One
3703
in
the
name
of
the
First
Minister
on
the
appointment
of
a
junior
Scottish
Minister
members
should
note
that
the
question
on
this
motion
will
be
put
immediately
after
the
debate
and
I
invite
any
member
who
wish
to
speak
in
less
debate
to
press
their
request.
Button
now
and
I
call
on
Nicola
Sturgeon
to
speak
to
and
to
move
the
motion
in
her
name.
Thank.
B
You
before
I
turn
to
the
ministerial
appointment
can
I
take
this
opportunity
to
clarify
a
point
from
my
program
for
government
statement.
I
referred
to
this
weekend's
opening
of
the
e
wpr
or
a
major
section
of
the
AWP.
Our
I
want
to
make
clear
that
the
opening
event
is
as
weekend
and
it
will
open
to
traffic
in
the
coming
weeks.
However,
it
remains
the
case
that
the
whole
Road
will
be
open
to
traffic
in
the
autumn
of
this
year.
I
simply
wanted
to
make
that
clear
to
the
chamber.
B
B
He
was
a
tireless
champion
of
Scottish
rural
industries,
both
at
home
and
abroad,
as
well
as
being
instrumental
in
driving
the
growth
of
a
food
and
drink
sector,
which
of
course,
continues
to
go
from
strength
to
strength
and
on
the
very
day
that
the
programme
for
government
confirms
plans
to
ban
plastic
cotton
buds.
We
should
remember
that
the
first
steps
to
tackle
plastic
waste
were
taken
when
Richard
implemented
the
plastic
bag
levy,
which
has
been
a
huge
success,
raising
millions
of
pounds
for
good
causes
and
seeing
plastic
bag
use.
Plummet.
B
Richard
of
course,
took
a
step
back
from
government
in
2016
to
support
his
family
in
an
extremely
difficult
time,
and
all
of
us
are
very
pleased
that
he
now
feels
ready
to
return
to
the
front
bench.
Of
course,
Richard
Ben
Richard.
He
remained
campaigning
politician,
never
wavering
in
standing
up
for
his
constituent,
particularly
on
the
issue
of
delivery
charges.
B
Richard
has
laid
a
highly
effective
campaign,
highlighting
the
UK
government's
continued
failure
to
act
and
what
is
a
significant
injustice
not
only
for
his
constituents
but
for
rural
communities
across
Scotland,
forcing
action
by
companies
by
the
Advertising,
Standards,
Agency
and
treating
standards
subject
to
Parliament's
approval
later
this
afternoon,
I
have
a
schvitz
should
know
to
take
up
the
role
of
Minister
for
further
education,
higher
education
and
science.
His
new
portfolio
was
one
of
the
most
important
in
government
in
terms
of
building
a
long
term
success.
B
Amongst
other
things,
he
will
be
responsible
for
the
key
Scottish
government
priority
of
wage-earning
access
to
university.
If
we
would
already
seeing
improvements
and
our
journey
towards
20%
of
university
students
coming
from
the
20%
most
deprived
areas,
he
will
also
help
to
shape
the
future
of
our
higher
education
institutions.
A
pivotal
part
of
our
economic
future
and
he's
perfectly
placed
to
work
with
both
sexes
has
been
a
graduate
first
of
college
and
then
returning
to
studies
at
University
later
on
so
presiding
officer.
B
C
He
seemed
determined
to
when
the
constituency,
or
at
least
see
as
much
of
the
north
of
Scotland
as
he
possibly
could
standing
in
Gordon
in
1997
Aberdeen,
central
in
99,
in
2003,
before
wedding
Murray
in
2006,
although
by
this
time
he
had
already
served
as
a
regional
MSP
in
the
north
of
Scotland
for
seven
years.
He
previously
served
as
cabinet
secretary
for
Rural
Affairs
in
the
environment
and
in
that
capacity,
I
worked
with
him,
promoting
the
sale
of
compost
bins
and
together
we
sold
over
1
million
compost
bins
to
households
throughout
Scotland.
C
There
is
a
picture
of
each
of
us
inside
a
compost
bin
which
was
part
of
the
promotional
campaign,
and
when
you
say
that
you
wonder
how
we
manage
to
shift
1
million
of
those
but
nevermind
I
do
have
the
photo
but
I'm,
not
sure
which
one
of
us
would
lose
most
political
credibility
where
I
turn
release
it
to
social
media.
Of
course,
Richard
locket
is
a
champion
of
the
circular
economy
and
in
that
regard
we
are
both
kindred
spirits.
His
new
portfolio
is
also
a
critical
one.
C
A
Thank
you
very
much.
The
question
is
that
motion
one
three:
seven:
zero
three
in
the
name
of
the
first
minister
on
the
appointment
of
a
junior
Scottish
Minister
be
agreed.
Are
we
all
agreed?
We
are
agreed.
The
motion
is
agreed.
First
Minister
me
now
invite
a
magistrate
to
approve
the
appointment
of
Richard
locket
as
a
junior,
Scottish,
Minister
and
may
I
offer
my
congratulations
in
your
reappointment.
A
A
You
very
much
and
I'd
propose
to
ask
a
single
question
in
all
three
beautimous
ins:
does
anyone
object?
No,
that's
good.
The
question
therefore,
is
the
motions
one
three,
seven,
three,
five
one:
three
76
and
one
three:
seven
thirty-seven
in
the
name
of
cream
day
and
behalf
the
Bureau
be
agreed.
Are
we
all
agreed.
We
are
agreed,
and
that
concludes
decision
time
well
now,
move
to
members,
business
we'll
just
have
a
short
break
short
suspension.
Well,
member,
while
the
business
clears
chamber
clears.