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The Scottish Government has announced its first reshuffle since Alex Salmond became first minister in May 2007.
Salmond said he had axed three ministers in order to bring in new talent.
Changes at Holyrood mean that culture minister Linda Fabiani will no longer hold her position.
Instead, she will be replaced by the current environment minister Mike Russell.
Two further minsters - Stuart Maxwell and Maureen Watt - were also removed from the government.
Watt has been replaced as schools minister by Keith Brown, while Alex Neil takes over the housing and communities brief from Maxwell.
And Roseanna Cunningham is to fill Russell's vacant post in the environment department.
Salmond explained that he had made the changes to allow "talented individuals" the opportunity to take more senior posts in the SNP.
He said: "The SNP group is extremely fortunate in having such a strong team of backbenchers and the purpose of the reshuffle is to give talented individuals such as Alex Neil, Roseanna Cunningham and Keith Brown the opportunity to make their contribution to government and the delivery of vital public services for the Scottish People."
Salmond also denied that the current ministerial team was being shuffled because of failings.
He added: "There have been no failures in the ministerial team, but I have asked them to make way to give colleagues an opportunity to show what they can contribute."
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd