Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy

This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Scotland

British politics portal

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy, commonly referred to as the Finance Secretary, is a member of the Cabinet in the Scottish Government. The Cabinet Secretary has Ministerial responsibility for the Scottish Government's Finance Directorates. The current Cabinet Secretary is John Swinney.

The Cabinet Secretary is assisted in his or her role by two Junior Ministers: the Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism and the Minister for Parliamentary Business.

History

Following devolution in 1999, the Government of First Minister Donald Dewar instituted the position as the Minister for Finance, which was renamed the Minister for Finance and Local Government in the Government of Henry McLeish from 2000 to 2001. In the first Government of Jack McConnell, from 2001 to 2003, the position was renamed as the Minister for Finance and Public Services, changed to the Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform after a reshuffle of the Second McConnell government in 2004. The first Government of Alex Salmond in 2007 combined the Minister for Finance element, with that of Enterprise and Transport to create the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth. After the 2011 election the position was named Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth and the transport portfolio was moved under the remit of another Cabinet position. In November 2014, the Government of Nicola Sturgeon renamed the position to Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy.

Overview

Responsibilities

Deputising for the First Minister – the constitution – the National Performance Framework – government strategy, reform, delivery and outcomes across portfolios, cross government implementation of Scotland’s Digital Future and relations with other UK administrations.

Scottish Public Finances and their sustainability - the Scottish Economy, fiscal policy, the Scottish Budget, public spending, taxation, budgetary monitoring and reporting, public service reform, public bodies policy, efficient government, public sector pay and pensions.

Business and Industry – enterprise, trade and inward investment, energy and renewable energy, innovation, tourism, business regulation, accountancy and insolvency.

Securing the Government’s parliamentary business – liaising with the parliamentary bureau and MSPs of the government party, open government, including Freedom of Information.

Resilience.

Public bodies

The following public bodies report to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy:

List of Office holders

Name Portrait Entered Office Left Office Party First Minister
Jack McConnell 19 May 1999 26 October 2000 Scottish Labour Party Donald Dewar
Angus Mackay 26 October 2000 22 November 2001 Scottish Labour Party Henry McLeish
Andy Kerr 22 November 2001 4 October 2004 Scottish Labour Party Jack McConnell
Tom McCabe 4 October 2004 16 May 2007 Scottish Labour Party Jack McConnell
John Swinney 17 May 2007 19 May 2011 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond
John Swinney 19 May 2011 21 November 2014 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond
John Swinney 21 November 2014 Incumbent Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon

See also

References

    External links