(458)  RESIGNATION OF JIM WALLACE

Jim Wallace, Deputy First Minister and leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, announced his resignation from these positions on 9 May 2005.  Wallace, a QC, will serve out his term as MSP for Orkney.  Wallace served no less than thrice as Acting First Minister (first in the absence, then following the death of, Donald Dewar, and finally after the resignation of Henry McLeish).  He was also the first Minister of Justice 1999-2003, and has since been the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning.