Presiding Officer to have surgery

The Scottish Parliament’s Presiding Officer will have surgery in the New Year.

Tricia Marwick will miss a fortnight of proceedings at Holyrood after the operation in January.

A spokesman for the Parliament confirmed the news yesterday and said her deputies, John Scott and Elaine Smith, would cover during her absence.

He said: “The Presiding Officer will go into hospital in early January for a minor operation to remove her gall bladder.

“She is expected to take two weeks off to recuperate, during which time her two deputies will fulfil her parliamentary duties.”