Presiding Officer: Previous incumbents make the post a hard act to follow

Lib Dem Lord Steel of Aikwood was the first Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, between 1999 and 2003.

During his time in office, Sir David as he was then known, was heard to declare: "Well, the view has certainly got better in this parliament," when he saw Scottish Socialist Party MSPs Carolyn Leckie and Rosie Kane coming up to vote.

Widely respected as an effective Presiding Officer he was praised by the First Minister Jack McConnell who said that his experience and commitment had been "fundamental to our success as a young parliament".

The SNP's George Reid was in the post between 2003 and 2007. At the official opening of the controversial new Scottish Parliament building that year, Mr Reid made a keynote speech in which he paid tribute to the construction as an architectural achievement.

The former Ochil MSP is generally viewed as the most effective Presiding Officer during the 12 years of devolution for his strict control of debates.

Conservative MSP Alex Fergusson was in the post from 2007 to this year. During the draw for the 2007-8 CIS Cup football semi-finals, he mixed up the numbers and miscalled the teams, a mistake that was rectified later that day. However, he is generally viewed as having performed well during a parliamentary term when a minority government was in power.