THE First Minister has announced a mini reshuffle of her ministerial team at what she called a “crucial time for Scotland”.
The news comes in the wake of Joe FitzPatrick’s resignation over the Scottish drugs deaths crisis.
Mairi Gougeon will take on the role of Minister for Public Health and Sport, while Angela Constance takes on the newly created role of Minister for Drug Policy.
Elsewhere in the reshuffle, Ben Macpherson will become Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment, supporting both Roseanna Cunningham and Fergus Ewing in their roles as secretaries.
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The current Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation Ivan McKee will take on additional responsibilities in supporting Finance Secretary Kate Forbes ahead of the Scottish Government Budget early in the new year.
Minister for Europe and International Development Jenny Gilruth is to take on responsibility for Migration.
Excluding Law Officers, these changes mean that the total number of Ministers remains unchanged at 26, with the gender balance at 14 women and 12 men.
Expanding on the reshuffle announcement, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “At a crucial time for Scotland, these new appointments ensure that we have a ministerial team fully focused on tackling the many important challenges facing us.
“Mairi Gougeon has proven herself to be a highly effective Rural Affairs minister working with stakeholders, balancing competing interests and taking on difficult policy challenges. She will now be part of the team protecting and improving Scotland’s public health, and will play a key role in the pandemic, taking the lead on testing.
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“Mairi will work alongside the new Minister for Drugs Policy Angela Constance, who is tasked specifically with tackling what is another major public health emergency in Scotland.
“Ben Macpherson takes on the environment post at a critical time in our fight against climate change and as we take new steps to protect Scotland’s wonderful and diverse natural environment. Having previously worked on Climate Justice and Climate Finance, Ben will continue our work to protect wildlife, enhance biodiversity and support Scotland’s rural economy.
“With responsibility for migration, Jenny Gilruth will be working to tackle the demographic challenge threatening to undermine our economy and our society, and Ivan McKee will assist Kate Forbes in supporting firms through the pandemic, ensuring Scottish Government procurement backs Scottish business and in preparing our Budget early in the new year.”
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