Alex Salmond today apologised after mistakenly referring to a leading Scottish industrialist as being dead.
During an exchange at Holyrood, the First Minister referred to the existing structure of local enterprise companies as having been "drawn up on the back of a cigarette packet by the late Bill Hughes 20 years ago".
However, speaking a few minutes later during the same First Minister's Questions, he said: "Mr Presiding Officer, perhaps I can take this opportunity to apologise to Bill Hughes who is not dead but I'm told very much alive and kicking.
"And I freely make the apology to Mr Hughes."
Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson replied: "He will be relieved to hear of that I'm sure."
The First Minister, in a nod to US author Mark Twain's quote, added: "I'm sure that reports of Bill Hughes' death have been greatly exaggerated and I reiterate my apology to the person who originated the design of the enterprise network."
Mr Hughes, a Tayside businessman, is widely credited with coming up with the idea of Scottish Enterprise following a visit to the US in the early 1980s.
The former Scottish Conservative Party treasurer was inspired by seeing US businesses helping to create jobs in their local communities.
At the end of today's question time Tory Leader Annabel Goldie raised a point of order on Mr Salmond's slip up.
"I just wish to confirm the happy status and life of Mr Bill Hughes," she told MSPs.
"I can confirm he is alive and kicking and a fine embodiment of conservatism in Scotland.
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