Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, commonly referred to as the Finance Secretary, is a member of the Cabinet in the Scottish Government. The Cabinet Secretary has ministerial responsibility for the Scottish Governments' Finance and Central Services Department and the enterprise and transport functions of the Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department.

The Cabinet Secretary has overall responsibility for the Scottish Economy, public finances, Local government, trade and investment, planning, transport, energy, tourism, business and industry in Scotland and public service delivery.cite web|url=http://www.scottishexecutive.gov.uk/About/Scottish-Cabinet |title=Scottish Cabinet and Ministers |publisher=Scottish Government |accessdate=2007-07-26] Scottish public bodies for which the Cabinet Secretary has responsibility for include, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Water and visitscotland. Executive agencies under the jurisdiction of the Cabinet Secretary include Transport Scotland, the Scottish Public Pensions Agency, the Scottish Building Standards Agency.

John Swinney was recommended to the Queen for appointment to this post on 17th May 2007 by the Scottish Parliament and was sworn into office on 22nd May 2007.cite web|url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-07/sor0517-02.htm#Col37 |title=Ministers and Junior Ministers |publisher=Scottish Parliament |date=2007-07-17 |accessdate=2007-07-26]

The Cabinet Secretary is assisted in his role by two Junior Ministers in the Scottish Government - the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism (currently Jim Mather MSP) and the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change (currently Stewart Stevenson MSP.)

History

Following devolution in 1999, the Government of First Minister Donald Dewar instituted the position as the Minister for Finance, which was renamed the Minister for Finance and Local Government in the Government of Henry McLeish from 2000 to 2001. In the first Government of Jack McConnell, from 2001 to 2003, the position was renamed as the Minister for Finance and Public Services, changed to the Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform after a reshuffle of the Second McConnell government in 2004. The Government of Alex Salmond combined the Minister for Finance element, with that of Enterprise and Transport to create the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth.

List of Office holders

References

ee also

*Government Minister
*Ministry
*Cabinet

External links

* [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry Scottish Government - Business and Industry]
* [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy Scottish Government - Economy]
* [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Transport Scottish Government - Transport]
* [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Planning Scottish Government - Planning]