FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced her new streamlined Cabinet line-up on Wednesday, with some significant changes to the roles and responsibilities of cabinet secretaries and junior ministers. Two top jobs have been cut, taking the number of cabinet secretaries from 12 in the 2018 reshuffle to 10. Many of the portfolios have had responsibilities moved around or given to new briefs, so The National have worked out what you need to know.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN NEW CABINET SECRETARY PORTFOLIOS TO BE AWARE OF?
THE biggest change is the new role for former education secretary John Swinney as Cabinet Secretary for Covid-19 recovery. His brief will involve co-ordinating work across government departments and chairing a cross-party steering group on the way forward, due to meet for the first time next week.
WHICH CABINET SECRETARY PORTFOLIOS HAVE ONLY CHANGED SLIGHTLY?
PRETTY much all of the main Cabinet roles have had new responsibilities given to their brief for the next parliamentary term. Health and sport has now become Health and Social Care as Humza Yousaf (below) takes on the portfolio, which will include the establishment of a National Care Service. Michael Matheson has had his Transport brief extended to include Net Zero and Energy responsibilities, as Scotland works towards COP26 this year.
The Constitutional relations role, now headed by Angus Robertson, has also been extended to include the brief for culture and external affairs – which was a standalone role under Fiona Hyslop since 2011.
The previous communities and local government portfolio has been transformed into Social Justice, Housing and Local Government headed by Shona Robison. She will be tasked with delivering 100,000 new homes and reducing child poverty.
And finally, the only junior minister to be promoted, Mairi Gougeon, has been given the brief of Rural Affairs and Islands, a slight change from the previous cabinet secretary brief under Fergus Ewing who covered rural economy.
WHICH CABINET PORTFOLIOS HAVE STAYED RELATIVELY THE SAME?
TWO of the portfolios – Finance and Economy under Kate Forbes, and the Justice brief being taken on by Keith Brown. And, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Deputy First Minister John Swinney will continue in their roles.
WHAT ABOUT JUNIOR MINISTERS?
THERE are now 15 junior ministers covering a series of briefs, up from 13 in the 2018 reshuffle and 12 after the 2016 election. Key ministers to look out for include Mairi McAllan, previously a special adviser to the FM, who is taking on the role of Minister for Environment, Biodiversity and Land Reform, working alongside Gougeon in Rural Affairs and Mathieson in Net Zero.
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Richard Lochhead has been moved from further and higher education into minister for just transition, employment and fair work, and Maree Todd, who was children’s minister, becomes minister for public health, women’s health and sport.
IS THE CABINET STILL GENDER BALANCED?
IT is, there are still five female cabinet secretaries and five men. For junior ministers, there are seven women and eight men.
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