Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy
Scottish Gaelic: Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Eaconamaidh, Obair Chothromach agus Lùth
Incumbent
Neil Gray
since 29 March 2023
Scottish Government
Scottish Cabinet
StyleCabinet Secretary
Wellbeing Economy Secretary(informal and only within Scotland)
Scottish Economy Secretary(out-with Scotland)
AppointerFirst Minister
Inaugural holderJack McConnell
Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs
Sam Galbraith
Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture
FormationNovember 2000
Succession19 May 2021
Salary£118,511 per annum (2023)[1]
(including £67,662 MSP salary)
Websitewww.gov.scot

The Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy (Scottish Gaelic: Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Eaconamaidh, Obair Chothromach agus Lùth), commonly referred to as the Wellbeing Economy Secretary (Scottish Gaelic: Rùnaire na h-Eaconamaidh), is a Scottish Government Cabinet position with responsibility for the economy of Scotland. The role in it current form is effectively a recreation of the former position of Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work.

The cabinet secretary is supported by three ministers, the Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade, the Minister for Energy, and the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity.[2]

History

The Europe and External Affairs brief was instituted in 2000 and combined with Education as the Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs which was a Cabinet position in the McLeish Government. After 2001 the Europe and External Affairs Brief was abolished as a ministerial position. From 1999 to 2001, the Culture brief was a junior post in the Scottish Government as Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport. It was made into a Cabinet position as Minister for Culture and Sport in the First McConnell government from 2001 to 2003. The Second McConnell government from 2003 to 2007 combined the Culture and Sport brief with Tourism to form a Cabinet post in the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport. Culture was combined with External Affairs and Europe, to form a junior ministerial position, of Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture in the Salmond government following the 2007 Scottish Parliament election. In February 2009 the role was expanded to deal with constitutional issues this additional role was later removed in December 2009 following the publication of the National Conversation.[3] After the 2011 Scottish Parliament election the office-holder returned to the Cabinet with the junior ministerial post being transformed into the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs.[4] After the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, the post was retitled Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs.

In February 2020 the existing Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop took on additional responsibilities for economic matters from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy (that role becoming the Cabinet Secretary for Finance), whilst responsibility for external affairs was transferred to the Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations, with that post being renamed Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs. Tourism moved to the Rural Economy brief.[5] On 19 May 2021 the position ceased to exist with the re-creation of the positions of Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy and the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture. It was recreated in its current form on 29 March 2023, with Neil Gray being appointed to the position.

Overview

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy:[2]

  • Support for business, industry and manufacturing
  • Wellbeing economy and inclusive growth
  • Cities investment and strategy
  • City Centre Recovery Taskforce
  • National Strategy for Economic Transformation
  • Enterprise agencies
  • Scottish National Investment Bank
  • Office of the Chief Economic Adviser
  • Industrial strategy
  • Regional economic partnerships
  • Support for economic transformation
  • Women's employment
  • Women in business and addressing the gender pay gap
  • Supply chain development programmes
  • Infrastructure Investment
  • Clyde Mission
  • City and Regional Growth Deals
  • Government investments (Prestwick, Fergusons, BiFab)
  • Employment and Jobs
  • Long-term labour market strategy
  • Fair work (including living wage and living hours)
  • Employability programmes
  • Effective worker voice, including trade unions
  • Workplace equalities (including gender, disability and race employment)
  • Engagement with UK Government on various economy-focused funds
  • Shared prosperity fund, levelling up fund, ESIF
  • Oil and gas

Public bodies

The following public bodies reported to the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy:[2]

List of office holders

Cabinet position

Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs

Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture
Name Portrait Entered Office Left Office Party First Minister Name Portrait Entered Office Left Office Party First Minister
Jack McConnell 1 November 2000 22 November 2001 Labour Party Henry McLeish Sam Galbraith 1 November 2000 20 March 2001 Labour Party Henry McLeish

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport

Mike Watson 28 November 2001 28 November 2002 Labour Party Jack McConnell
Elaine Murray 28 November 2002 21 May 2003 Labour Party
Frank McAveety 21 May 2003 4 October 2004 Labour Party
Patricia Ferguson 4 October 2004 19 February 2007 Labour Party

Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs

Fiona Hyslop 19 May 2011 21 November 2014 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond

Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs

Fiona Hyslop 21 November 2014 18 May 2016 Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon

Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs

Fiona Hyslop 18 May 2016 17 February 2020 Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture

Fiona Hyslop 17 February 2020 19 May 2021 Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon

Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy

Neil Gray 29 March 2023 Incumbent Scottish National Party Humza Yousaf

Junior Minister

Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport

Name Entered Office Left Office Party First Minister
Rhona Brankin 19 May 1999 1 November 2000 Scottish Labour Party Donald Dewar

Deputy Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture

Deputy Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs
Name Entered Office Left Office Party First Minister Name Entered Office Left Office Party First Minister
Allan Wilson 1 November 2000 8 March 2001 Scottish Labour Party Henry McLeish Nicol Stephen 1 November 2000 28 November 2001 Scottish Liberal Democrats Henry McLeish

Deputy Minister for Sport, the Arts and Culture

Allan Wilson 8 March 2001 28 November 2001 Scottish Labour Party Henry McLeish

Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport

Elaine Murray 28 November 2001 28 November 2002 Labour Party Jack McConnell

Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture

Linda Fabiani 17 May 2007 10 February 2009 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond

Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution

Michael Russell 10 February 2009 1 December 2009 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond

Minister for Culture and External Affairs

Fiona Hyslop 1 December 2009 19 May 2011 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond

Minister for External Affairs and International Development

Humza Yousaf 5 September 2012 21 November 2014 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond

Minister for Europe and International Development

Humza Yousaf 21 November 2014 18 May 2016 Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon

Minister for International Development and Europe

Alasdair Allan 18 May 2016 2018 Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon

See also

References

  1. ↑ "MSP salaries". parliament.scot. The Scottish Parliament. 5 April 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy". Scottish Government. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  3. ↑ "Demoted minister backs successor". BBC News. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  4. ↑ Black, Andrew (20 May 2011). "At-a-glance: Scottish government cabinet". BBC News. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  5. ↑ "Cabinet Appointments". Scottish Government. 17 February 2020.
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