Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment

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The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment is a position in the Scottish Government Cabinet. The Cabinet Secretary is responsible for the environment, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, as well as land reform and sustainable development. The Cabinet Secretary is assisted by the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform.

The current Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment is Richard Lochhead, who was appointed in May 2007.

History

The position was created in 1999 as the Minister for Rural Affairs it was renamed as the Minister for Rural Development in 2000 and again in 2001 as the Minister for the Environment and Rural Development, the current position of Cabinet Secretary was created following the 2007 election.

Overview

Responsibilities

Public bodies

The following public bodies report to the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment:

List of office holders

Name Portrait Entered office Left office Party First Minister
Ross Finnie 19 May 1999 26 October 2000 Liberal Democrats Donald Dewar
Ross Finnie 26 October 2000 22 November 2001 Liberal Democrats Henry McLeish
Ross Finnie 22 November 2001 16 May 2007 Liberal Democrats Jack McConnell
Richard Lochhead 16 May 2007 21 November 2014 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond
Richard Lochhead 21 November 2014 Incumbent Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon

See also