The lengthy recruitment process was completed on Friday (August 27) when the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) met and unanimously agreed to appoint Mr Grice to the most senior staff position of the Parliament.

Mr Grice has been the acting Clerk/Chief Executive since the Parliament met for the first time in May. He was one of 56 applicants for the post, which was advertised in January. The salary for the post is £70,000 subject to confirmation.

The chair of the SPCB, Presiding Officer Sir David Steel, said:

"Paul Grice has been appointed on merit against a strong field of candidates. The appointment process has been an exhaustive one, working down from the initial 56 applications. We are all looking forward to working with Paul."

Mr Grice is 37, married with two children, girls aged five and one. He was educated at York College of Arts and Technology and the University of Stirling. He entered the civil service in 1985 with the Department of Transport, and moved to The Scottish Office in 1992, working in the Environment Department.

In May 1997, he was appointed to the Constitution Group. He took the lead on referendum legislation and the referendum itself. He then took on management of the Scotland Bill, before becoming Director of Implementation in the summer of 1998, where he was responsible for setting up the organisation and infrastructure for the Parliament.