The elections for the third term of the Scottish Parliament took place on May 3, 2007. On May 16 Alex Salmond MSP was elected First Minister by the Scottish Parliament.
The Permanent Secretary, Sir John Elvidge, took the opportunity presented by the formation of a new government to align the Scottish Government's management systems and structures more closely with the new administration's objectives.
These changes also meet the requirements of an external review of the Scottish Government, announced last year.
Ministers in the new administration
There are six Cabinet Secretaries (Cabinet Ministers) including the First Minister and 10 Ministers who report to a Cabinet Secretary.
Including the two Law Officers (Lord Advocate and Solicitor General for Scotland), this makes a total of 18 Ministers - two fewer than the last administration.
Cabinet Portfolios
The new administration has six Cabinet portfolios:
• First Minister
• Finance and Sustainable Growth
• Health and Wellbeing
• Education and Lifelong Learning
• Justice and Communities
• Rural Affairs and Environment
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service continues to be part of the government but it is not directly affected by these changes, given the need to maintain its independence as a prosecution service. Elish Angiolini remains Lord Advocate, while Frank Mulholland QC has been appointed Solicitor General.
Changes to Scottish Executive management structures
The Strategic Board - the civil service 'top table' for the organisation - now consists of the Permanent Secretary and the five Directors-General (DGs) within the core Government.
The role of Directors General will focus on the performance of the whole organisation against the Cabinet's agenda. This role replaces their former Heads of Department role and those Departments no longer exist. The Crown Agent and Chief Executive, COPFS, will continue to lead or participate in a range of aspects of the shared corporate agenda with the core, outwith the Strategic Board.
Each Director-General will lead work on one of five key strategic policy objectives:
• wealthier and fairer Scotland - Andrew Goudie, DG Economy and Chief Economic Adviser
• healthier Scotland - Kevin Woods, DG Health and Chief Executive NHS Scotland
• safer and stronger Scotland - Robert Gordon, DG Justice and Communities
• smarter Scotland - Philip Rycroft, DG Education
• greener Scotland - Richard Wakeford, DG Environment
Directorates - formerly referred to as Groups - are the building blocks of the new set-up. Directors will be the key advisers to the Ministers and will have a leading role in presenting and delivering policy.
Who's Who in the new structure
Those Directors working within NHS Scotland will continue to report to the Cabinet Secretary, Health and Wellbeing through the Chief Executive, NHS Scotland.
Each Director will be supported and line managed by a Director General, who will ensure that their work is fully connected with the work of other Directorates and that of stakeholders, in pursuit of Cabinet's strategic objectives.
This new structure is designed to ensure the Scottish Government exploits the links between different areas and develops more joined-up policies.