| Scotland |
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Scotland in the UK
Scotland in the EU
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The Minister for Housing and Transport is a member of the Scottish Government who works to the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment. As a Junior Minister the post holder is not a member of the Scottish Government Cabinet.
Responsibilities include: transport policy and delivery, public transport, road, rail services and infrastructure, air and ferry services, canals and cycling.
From the advent of devolution in 1999 the ministerial portfolios of transport and infrastructure were combined with Environment to form the Minister for Transport and the Environment. From 2000 to 2001, in the government of First Minister Henry McLeish, the environment brief was removed and replaced with planning and the officeholder was styled the Minister for Transport and Planning. The government of First Minister Jack McConnell, from November 2001 to May 2003, combined the transport, planning and infrastructure briefs with economic affairs and further education, headed by the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning. The 2nd McConnell government from 2003, created a cabinet position for transport and infrastructure - the officeholder being titled the Minister for Transport. Following a government reshuffle in 2005, the position was renamed Minister for Transport and Telecommunications. The government of First Minister Alex Salmond, elected after the May 2007 Scottish general election, reduced the size of the Scottish Cabinet. Overall responsibility for transport, infrastructure, planning and climate change, came under the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, however direct responsibility was vested in the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, a junior ministerial position within the Scottish Government. In 2010, Climate Change functions were transferred to the junior Environment Minister, with the portfolio becoming Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. After the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, the transport function was given to Alex Neil MSP, as Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Planning. The old Minister for Housing and Communities brief was abolished, and Keith Brown was given the new title of Minister for Housing and Transport, working to Alex Neil.
The current Minister for Transport and Infrastructure is Keith Brown MSP.[1]
Minister for Transport and the Environment |
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| Name | Entered Office | Left Office | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Sarah Boyack | 19 May 1999 | 29 October 2000 | Labour | |
Minister for Transport and Planning |
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| 2. | Sarah Boyack | 29 October 2000 | 27 November 2001 | Labour | |
Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning |
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| 3. | Wendy Alexander | 27 November 2001 | 3 May 2002 | Labour | |
| 4. | Iain Gray | 3 May 2002 | 20 May 2003 | Labour | |
Minister for Transport and Telecommunications |
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| 7. | Nicol Stephen | 20 May 2003 | 23 June 2005 | Liberal Democrats | |
| 8. | Tavish Scott | 29 June 2005 | 29 January 2006 | Liberal Democrats | |
Minister for Transport |
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| 9. | Tavish Scott | 30 January 2006 | 17 May 2007 | Liberal Democrats | |
Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change |
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| 10. | Stewart Stevenson | 17 May 2007 | 11 December 2010 | Scottish National Party | |
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure |
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| 11. | Keith Brown | 11 December 2010 | present | Scottish National Party | |
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