- Source: Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic is a position in the Scottish cabinet since May 2024. The current Cabinet Secretary is Kate Forbes, who has served since May 2024 alongside her role as Deputy First Minister.
The Cabinet Secretary is supported by the Minister for Business, Richard Lochhead, and the Minister for Employment and Investment, Tom Arthur.
History
The role was first titled Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, with the initial holder being Keith Brown, who was appointed in May 2016. At its inception, the Cabinet Secretary had responsibilities for the Scottish economy, infrastructure, trade and investment, business, industry, employment, trade unions and energy. The Cabinet Secretary was assisted by the Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy and the Minister for Employability and Training.
The post was abolished in June 2018, with the "economy" part of the brief moving to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work and the infrastructure responsibilities moving to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity.
In February 2020, a Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture was appointed, taking over many of the responsibilities of the former portfolio, which were thus again held separately from the Finance brief. The role was later once again remerged with the Finance brief to create the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, held by Kate Forbes.
Under First Minister Humza Yousaf, Neil Gray was appointed as Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy Secretary, with the Finance brief again becoming a separate post. Following a reshuffle, Màiri McAllan held the portfolio of Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy.
In May 2024, John Swinney retitled the role to Economy and Gaelic, and appointed Kate Forbes concurrently with her role of Deputy First Minister of Scotland. McAllan retained the other part of her role as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy.
Overview
= Responsibilities
=The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic is responsible for:
inter-governmental relations
Responsibility for cross-government delivery & outcomes
National Performance Framework
Historical Abuse Inquiry
Redress
Covid Inquiries
Sheku Bayoh public inquiry
Languages, including Gaelic, Scots and BSL
economic policy and prosperity
green industrial strategy (jointly with Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy)
support for business, industry and manufacturing
long-term labour market strategy
enterprise agencies
Scottish National Investment Bank
Office of the Chief Economic Adviser
entrepreneurship
engagement with UK government on shared prosperity fund, evelling up fund, ESIF
Infrastructure investment
regional economic partnerships
Clyde Mission
city and regional growth deals
government investments (Prestwick, Fergusons, BiFab)
= Public bodies
=The following public bodies report to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic:
Scottish Enterprise
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
South of Scotland Enterprise
Scottish National Investment Bank
Glasgow Prestwick Airport
Ferguson Marine
BiFab
List of Economy Secretaries
As is typical of Scottish government roles, the Economy portfolio has gone through many iterations since its inception. The current holder is Kate Forbes, who has held the role since May 2024.
References
External links
The Scottish Cabinet
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Britania Raya
- Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic
- Kate Forbes
- Deputy First Minister of Scotland
- Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture
- Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy
- Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government
- Swinney government
- Minister for Gaelic
- Minister for Employment and Investment
- Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands