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Donald Dewar Announces First Cabinet
17/05/1999
The First Minister of Scotland, Donald Dewar MSP, MP has today announced the names of those he will nominate to the Scottish Parliament to serve in the Cabinet of the Labour/Liberal Democrat Partnership Government.
The Cabinet will consist of 11 positions and is made up of nine Labour members and two from the Liberal Democrats including Jim Wallace, who has been appointed Deputy First Minister and to the newly created post as Minister for Justice.
First Minister Dewar has taken the opportunity to reorganise the former Scottish Office portfolios to create several new Ministries.
Apart from the Ministry of Justice these include new positions for Children and Education, a Minister to cover Social Inclusion, Local Government and Housing a Minister for Rural Affairs and for the first time a Scottish Finance Minister responsible for the Scottish Parliament's budget.
Mr Dewar said: "I am confident that I have chosen a strong team who will serve Scotland well. There is a genuine mix between experienced colleagues, who have already served in Government, alongside some of the new faces who are holding ministerial office for the first time.
"I have rearranged the portfolios to reflect the priorities of the Partnership Executive and to better serve the needs of the people of Scotland. I am sure this team will be able to command the support of Parliament."
Mr Wallace, who is taking up ministerial office for the first time as part of the Labour/Liberal Democrat Partnership, said:
"We are looking forward to playing a full part in the partnership government. We believe our Agreement reflects the needs of Scotland and faces up to the challenges and opportunities ahead. I am sure the team chosen by the First Minister is ideally suited to put our plans into effect. We will certainly support the nominations being made to the parliament."
The Cabinet portfolios are:
Jim Wallace - Deputy First Minister and Justice
Wendy Alexander - Minister for Social Inclusion, Local Government and Housing
Sarah Boyack - Minister for Transport and the Environment
Susan Deacon - Minister for Health and Community Care
Ross Finnie - Minister for Rural affairs
Sam Galbraith - Minister for Children and Education
Rt Hon Lord Hardie QC - Lord Advocate
Tom McCabe - Business Manager
Henry McLeish - Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning
Jack McConnell - Minister for Finance
Mr Dewar will announce junior Ministerial posts tomorrow.
Biographical notes on all the Ministers are attached.
News Release: 1039/99
17 May, 1999
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
THE RT HON DONALD DEWAR MA LLB MP
FIRST MINISTER OF SCOTLAND
The Rt Hon Donald Dewar MA LLB is the First Minister of Scotland.
Mr Dewar (61) was previously Secretary of State for Scotland between May 1997 and May 1999. He is MSP for Glasgow Anniesland and has been Member of Parliament for Glasgow Garscadden since 1978. Mr Dewar was Labour Chief Whip since 1995.
His previous appointments as Opposition spokesman covered Scottish Affairs, 1981-92, and Social Security, 1992-95. He was Chairman of the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs, 1980-81.
Mr Dewar was Member of Parliament for Aberdeen South, 1966-70, and was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the President of the Board of Trade, Tony Crosland, in 1967. Before entering Parliament, Mr Dewar practised as a solicitor in Glasgow.
Mr Dewar was educated at Glasgow Academy and Glasgow University. He is divorced, with one son and one daughter, and lives in Glasgow.
JIM WALLACE
Jim Wallace QC is Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice. Mr Wallace is the MSP for Orkney and has been leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats since 1992.
Mr Wallace was elected as the Member of Parliament for Orkney and Shetland in 1983. When Orkney and Shetland were separated into two constituencies for the Scottish Parliament elections Mr Wallace stood for the Orkney seat and was elected as an MSP on May 6, 1999.
Mr Wallace is 44 and lives on Orkney. He is married with two daughters.
WENDY ALEXANDER
Wendy Alexander is Minister for Social Inclusion, Local Government and Housing.
Ms Alexander (35), who is MSP for Paisley North, was previously a Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Scotland and helped shape all aspects of legislation in the establishment of the Scottish Parliament. She also worked specifically on policy areas including women's issues, social exclusion and industry.
A graduate of Glasgow and Warwick Universities, Ms Alexander also graduated with an MBA from the INSEAD business school in France.
She was then employed as a Global Management Consultant, working in Europe, America and Asia.
Ms Alexander has also worked as a research officer for the Labour Party.
SARAH BOYACK
Sarah Boyack is Minister for Transport and the Environment.
A lecturer in planning, Ms Boyack (38), is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and was Convenor of the RTPI, Scotland and chaired its women's panel in 1997. She is also Scottish co-ordinator of the Socialist Environmental Resource Association and a board member of the Scottish Centre for Public Policy.
She was chair of the National Organisation of Labour Students in 1995 and previously served on the executive of the International Union of Socialist Youth. Ms Boyack is a member of the National Transport Forum for Scotland.
Ms Boyack is MSP for Edinburgh Central.
SUSAN DEACON
Ms Susan Deacon is appointed Minister for Health and Community Care.
Ms Deacon (34), was a business consultant who worked at senior levels of Local Government and Higher Education.
She is MSP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh.
Ms Deacon was educated at Edinburgh University.
ROSS FINNIE
Ross Finnie is Minister for Rural Affairs. Mr Finnie, 52, was a Liberal Democrat councillor on Inverclyde Council before his election as an MSP. He was Liberal Democrat spokesman on economic affairs and finance.
A self employed chartered accountant and corporate financial adviser, he was educated in Greenock and still lives and works in the town.
Mr Finnie is married with two children. He is a regional list MSP for West of Scotland.
SAM GALBRAITH
Sam Galbraith is Minister for Children and Education.
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Strathkelvin & Bearsden, Mr Galbraith (53), was Minister for Health, Social Work, Sport, the Arts and Children at The Scottish Office.
Elected to Westminster in 1987, he was Opposition Spokesman on Scottish affairs and health, 1988-92, and on employment, 1992-93.
Before entering Parliament, Mr Galbraith was a Consultant in Neurosurgery, Greater Glasgow Health Board, 1978-87.
Born in Clitheroe, Lancashire, Mr Galbraith was educated at Greenock High School and Glasgow University. He is married with three children and lives in Glasgow. His interests outside politics include mountaineering. He is a member of the Scottish Mountaineering Club and he was a director of Wildcat Theatre Company, Glasgow.
THE RT HON LORD HARDIE QC - THE LORD ADVOCATE
Andrew Hardie QC, was appointed Lord Advocate on 6 May 1997 and created a Life Peer on 21 May 1997. He is a Member of the Privy Council. He will continue in that role in the Scottish Executive.
Born on 8 January 1946, Lord Hardie spent his childhood in Alloa. He was educated at St Modan's High School, Stirling and graduated MA in French and German, and LLB (Hons) from Edinburgh University.
Lord Hardie was an Advocate Depute from 1979 to 1983, Treasurer of the Faculty of Advocates from 1989 to 1994 and Dean of Faculty from 1994 to 1997.
Married with three children, Lord Hardie lives in Edinburgh.
TOM McCABE
Tom McCabe is the Business Manager.
MSP for Hamilton South, Mr McCabe was a Welfare Rights Officer and former leader of South Lanarkshire Council.
He has 20 years experience in engineering and a Diploma in Public Sector Management.
HENRY McLEISH
Henry McLeish is Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning.
MSP for Fife Central, Mr McLeish was Opposition Spokesman on social security from 1996 to 1997.
Before entering Parliament, Mr McLeish was a research officer and planning officer in local government. He lectured in Social Sciences at Heriot Watt University from 1973-87. He was a member of Kirkcaldy District Council, 1974-77, and Fife Regional Council, 1978-87. He served as leader of Fife Regional Council, 1982-87.
Born in Methil, Fife, Mr McLeish was educated at Buckhaven High School, Methil, and Heriot-Watt University. He married his second wife, Julie, in May 1998 after the death of his first wife in 1995 and lives in St Andrews with Julie and her son and daughter. He has a son and daughter from his first marriage. His interests outside politics include reading, history and the life and work of Robert Burns.
JACK McCONNELL
Jack McConnell is Minister for Finance.
Mr McConnell (38) was born in Arran and was educated at Stirling University. He is a former maths teacher and was a member of Stirling District Council between 1984 and 1992. He served as Leader of the council between 1990 and 1992. He was also Council Treasurer from 1988-1992.
He was General Secretary of Scottish Labour Party from 1992 until 1998, when he became a consultant on public affairs.
He is Member of the Scottish Parliament for Motherwell and Wishaw.
Mr McConnell is married with two children and lives in Stirling. His leisure interests include golf.