The Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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New Ministerial team confirmed

27/06/2005

First Minister Jack McConnell and Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen today announced changes to the Scottish Government's ministerial team and reiterated their determination to continue to focus on growing the economy, improving public services and creating a safer, more confident Scotland.

The First Minister said

"In the six years since devolution this partnership government has delivered real change, improving people's lives in the areas that really matter - health, crime, education and the economy.

"Nicol Stephen and I worked well together in Education and I am looking forward to working with him as Deputy First Minister. I know the Ministers that I have appointed today share our commitment to Scotland and our enthusiasm to make further progress over the next two years. I am delighted they have accepted their positions.

Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen said:

"Tavish Scott, George Lyon and Robert Brown will bring real energy, experience and ability to their new roles. This is now a very strong ministerial team.

"Enterprise and Lifelong Learning is clearly one of the most important roles in government. I am determined to build Scotland's enterprise culture and support our young entrepreneurs and students."

The changes that were announced today are:

• Deputy First Minister, Nicol Stephen has been appointed Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning portfolio.
• Tavish Scott joins the Cabinet as Minister for Transport and Telecommunications. He was previously Deputy Finance Minister.
• George Lyon joins the government as Deputy Minister for Finance and Parliamentary Business.
• Robert Brown becomes Deputy Minister for Education. He replaces Euan Robson who has now left the government.

The First Minister also took the opportunity to refresh the Health and Environment and Rural portfolios:

• Deputy Health Minister, Rhona Brankin, moves to become Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Affairs.
• Lewis Macdonald becomes Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care. He was previously Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Affairs.

The full list of Ministerial responsibilities is as follows.

First Minister
Jack McConnell MSP

Head of the devolved Scottish government; responsible for development, implementation and presentation of Executive policy; and for promoting and representing Scotland.

Deputy First Minister
Nicol Stephen MSP

With the First Minister, responsible for development, implementation and presentation of Executive policy; deputises for First Minister on promoting and representing Scotland.

Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning
Nicol Stephen MSP

Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning
Allan Wilson MSP

Economy, business and industry including Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, trade and inward investment, further and higher education, science, Bankruptcy and Diligence Bill, corporate social responsibility, community business and co-operative development, European Structural Funds, energy, lifelong learning, training and skills.

Minister for Justice
Cathy Jamieson MSP

Deputy Minister for Justice
Hugh Henry MSP

Criminal law and criminal procedure, youth justice, criminal justice social work, police, community safety, anti-social behaviour, neighbourhood wardens, prisons and sentencing policy, courts and law reform, sectarianism, human rights, fire services, emergency planning, drugs policy and related matters, vulnerable witnesses, victim support, civil law and civil procedure.

Minister for Health and Community Care
Andy Kerr MSP

Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care
Lewis Macdonald MSP

NHS, health service reform, public health, allied healthcare services, acute and primary services, performance, quality and improvement framework, community care, health improvement, mental health, substance misuse, pharmaceutical services, food safety and dentistry.

Minister for Education and Young P eople
Peter Peacock MSP

Deputy Minister for Education and Young P eople
Rob ert Brown MSP

School education, Gaelic, HMIE and SQA, nurseries, childcare, children's services, social work and SWSI.

Minister for Parliamentary Business
Margaret Curran MSP

Deputy Minister for Finance and Parliamentary Business
George Lyon MSP

Parliamentary business and management of Executive legislative programme and Executive business in the Parliament; relations with UK government; Freedom of Information and National Archives of Scotland; civic participation.

Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform
Tom McCabe MSP

Deputy Minister for Finance and Parliamentary Business
George Lyon MSP

The Scottish Budget, civil service reform, modernising government, efficient government, local government, community planning, external relations (including relations with the European Union), Scotland's international image, Fresh Talent, public service delivery, public bodies, public private partnerships, GRO, SPPA, licensing, relocation, e-government, procurement, budgetary monitoring and media and communications.

Minister for Environment and Rural Development
Ross Finnie MSP

Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development
Rhona Brankin MSP

Sustainable development, land reform, agriculture, fisheries, food, waste, climate change, air quality, strategic environmental assessment, Scottish Water, rural development, natural heritage, water, SEPA, GM, crofting, marine environment, freshwater fishing and forestry.

Minister for Communities
Malcolm Chisholm MSP

Deputy Minister for Communities
Johann Lamont MSP

Housing, regeneration, the land use planning system, Registers of Scotland, building standards, voluntary sector, anti - poverty measures, lead policy responsibility for older people, charity law, religious and faith organisations, equality issues.

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport
Patricia Ferguson MSP

Tourism, culture and the arts, sport, major events, built heritage, architecture, Historic Scotland, languages policy and lottery funding; assisting the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in representing the Scottish government to international contacts at home and abroad, and international development (including the relationship with Malawi).

Minister for Transport and Telecommunications
Tavish Scott MSP

Transport policy and delivery, public transport, road, rail services, air and ferry services and devolved interests in telecommunications and post offices.

Lord Advocate
Colin Boyd QC

Solicitor General
Elish Angiolini QC

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, prosecution of crime, investigation of sudden deaths, complaints against the police, support for victims and witnesses of crime, international cooperation (including mutual legal assistance and extradition), confiscation of proceeds of crime.

Legal advice to Scottish Ministers, civil litigation, constitutional issues and appointment of Counsel.

Bigoraphies of new Ministers

George Lyon was born on July 16th 1956. He studied at Rothesay Academy, before travelling to Australia and New Zealand to undertake a farming scholarship in 1986. A farmer since 1972, Mr Lyon was president of the NFU in 1997. He was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999. His interests include skiing, football, reading and keeping fit.

Robert Brown was born 25th December, 1947. He attended the Gordon Schools, Huntly before studying law at Aberdeen University. Mr Brown worked as a solicitor and was a Glasgow councillor between 1977 and 1992. He was elected to Parliament in 1999. His interests include history and science fiction.