Sam Galbraith: Paid tribute to Mr Dewar

Mr Dewar, 63, died on 11 October from a brain haemorrhage after a fall in Edinburgh.

Among those present was Environment Minister Sam Galbraith.

He paid tribute to the former Glasgow Anniesland MP and MSP's commitment to social inclusion.

Mr Galbraith said: "All his political life, from school through to university to his very last days, he was concerned with eliminating poverty and ensuring everyone, no matter what their background, realised their full potential.

"Nothing pained him more than to walk from Bearsden in my constituency down to his own in Drumchapel where a woman can expect to live 10 years less.

"His aim was to reduce that discrepancy in life expectancy and opportunity."

Mr Galbraith said ministers had a "duty" to ensure that aim was achieved and that every Scot could attain their full potential.

The minister had been in Brussels to attend a series of meetings with European ministers.

He also opened an exhibition of Scottish arts and crafts.