Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture


The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture, commonly referred to as the Economy Secretary or the Culture Secretary, is a Scottish Government Cabinet position with responsibility for the economy and culture of Scotland. The role was formed in February 2020, with the existing Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop taking on additional responsibilities for economic matters. Responsibility for external affairs was transferred to the Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations, with the post being renamed Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs, whilst tourism moved to the Rural Economy brief.
The cabinet secretary is supported by two ministers, the Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills and the Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation.

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 2001–2003. The Second McConnell government from 2003–2007 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. 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. After the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, the post was retitled Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs.

Overview

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture include:
The following public bodies reported to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture :

Cabinet position

Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs

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Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture

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Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport

Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs

Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs

Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture

Junior Minister

Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport

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Deputy Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture

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Deputy Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs

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Deputy Minister for Sport, the Arts and Culture

Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport

Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture

Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution

Minister for Culture and External Affairs

Minister for External Affairs and International Development

Minister for Europe and International Development

Minister for International Development and Europe