This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New Cabinet named at Bute House
20/05/2003
First Minister Jack McConnell today named his new Cabinet team and said they would immediately get down to work in a 'smarter, quicker and sharper way'.
He said:
"We have reached a turning point in our young Parliament. Much was achieved during the first term but our second term provides us with a chance to change Scotland for good.
"The high expectations people had for the Parliament must be realised. The team I have appointed today will help achieve that by raising their game, listening to the people of Scotland and delivering real improvements in services and the law."
In relation to the size of the Ministerial team, Mr McConnell added:
"We need to get the right balance between effectiveness and efficiency but we also need to listen to the message from the public about the size of government.
"I believe that a reduction in salaried Cabinet Ministers and deputies was justified but will not prevent us from being fully accountable and effective."
Deputy First Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, Jim Wallace said:
"Since May 1 we have been working hard to lay the foundations for a successful second term. A Partnership Agreement has been signed and we now have the people in place to take forward that Agreement. I believe these foundations are very strong and it is now time to build on these and get down to work for the people of Scotland."
The ministerial team has been reduced from 20 to 18, including a reduction of one in the number of fully salaried Cabinet members.
In addition to the FM and Lord Advocate, 10 Ministers will attend Cabinet, two of whom will receive the salary of a Deputy Minister.
The Scottish Ministers, in addition to the FM, are:
Deputy First Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning - Jim Wallace
With FM, responsible for development, implementation and presentation of SE policies. As Enterprise Minister responsible for economy, business and industry, including Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, European Structural Funds, trade and inward investment, energy (including renewable energy), further and higher education, lifelong learning, training and science.
Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning - Lewis Macdonald
Minister for Justice - Cathy Jamieson
Responsible for criminal Justice, youth justice, victims support, criminal justice social work, police, prisons, sentencing policy, courts, law reform, including civil law and fire services.
Deputy - Hugh Henry
Minister for Education and Young People - Peter Peacock
Responsible for school education, nurseries and childcare, Gaelic, children's services, social work, HMIE, HMSWI and SQA.
Deputy - Euan Robson
Minister for Health and Community Care - Malcolm Chisholm
Responsible for the NHS, community care, health service reform, health improvement, health promotion, public health, allied healthcare services, acute, primary and mental health services, addiction services, pharmaceutical services, performance, quality and improvement framework and food safety.
Deputy - Tom McCabe
Minister for Environment and Rural Development - Ross Finnie
Responsible for environment and natural heritage, land reform, water, sustainable development, agriculture, fisheries, rural development including aquaculture and forestry.
Deputy - Allan Wilson
Minister for Finance and Public Services - Andy Kerr
Responsible for the Scottish Budget, public service delivery, modernising government including civil service reform, local government, cities and community planning.
Deputy - Tavish Scott
Minister for Communities - Margaret Curran
Responsible for anti-social behaviour, poverty, housing and area regeneration, the land use planning system and building standards, equality issues, voluntary sector, religious and faith organisations and charity law.
Deputy - Mary Mulligan
Minister for Parliamentary Business - Patricia Ferguson
Responsible for Parliamentary affairs and the management of Executive business in the Parliament.
Deputy - Tavish Scott
Ministers attending the Cabinet but receiving Deputy Ministers Salaries .
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport - Frank McAveety
Responsible for tourism, culture and the arts, sport, major events strategy, built heritage, architecture, Historic Scotland and lottery funding.
Minister for Transport - Nicol Stephen
Responsible for transport policy and delivery, public transport, road, rail services, air and ferry services.
Law Officers
Lord Advocate - Colin Boyd QC
Solicitor General - Elish Angiolini
Due to the decrease in the number of full salaried Cabinet positions, Mike Watson, previously the MInister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, has left the government.
The First Minister said:
"I am very grateful to Mike Watson for his work in establishing the new portfolio and in particular for his contribution to increased confidence in our tourism industry.
"I am sure he will continue to make a major contribution to devolution within the Parliament."
He added:
He added:
"I am also grateful for the work done by Des McNulty in his time as deputy Minister for Social Justice. In particular, the work he did on homelessness and planning. I am confident he will continue to play an important role in the Scottish Parliament."