Error: Unable to parse the provided SSML. The provided text is not valid SSML

Question

I am receiving this error when using the Test section of the Alexa Developer portal website

Error: Unable to parse the provided SSML. The provided text is not valid SSML.

The error occurs after I get a successful response and I press the listen button.

the response output is:

{
  "version": "1.0",
  "response": {
    "outputSpeech": {
      "type": "PlainText",
      "text": "Here are some recent stories about siemens:Citigroup Inc. Reaffirms Buy Rating for Siemens AG (SIE)Siemens AG (SIE) Rating Reiterated by Citigroup Inc.Global Hydrophone Market Report 2014-2021 - Analysis, Technologies & Forecasts - Vendors: Siemens, Sensor Technology, Cetacean Research Technology - Research and MarketsSiemens Bags The 2016 Frost & Sullivan Asia-Pacific Building Technologies Company Of The Year Award"
    },
    "reprompt": {
      "outputSpeech": {
        "type": "PlainText",
        "text": "What else can I help with?"
      }
    },
    "shouldEndSession": false
  },
  "sessionAttributes": {}
}

Answer 1

so seems alexa doesn't like the special character & in the text parameter of the outputSpeech response. I replaced it with the word and and that resolved my issue.