Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture
# 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, was 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 (effectively adding the responsibilities of the former Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work to her existing culture responsibilities). 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. On 19 May 2021 the position ceased to exist with the creation of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy and the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

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 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. 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:

* Architecture and built heritage
* Broadcasting
* Constitutional policy
* Creative industries
* Cross-government coordination of European and wider external relations, including post-Brexit relations
* Culture of Scotland
* Major events

### Public bodies

The following public bodies reported to the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture :

* Architecture and Design Scotland
* Creative Scotland
* Historic Environment Scotland
* National Galleries of Scotland
* National Library of Scotland
* National Museums of Scotland

## List of office holders

### Cabinet position

| Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs | Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs | Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs | Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs | Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs | Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs | Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs | Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture | Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture | Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture | Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture | Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture | Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture | Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Name | Name | Portrait | Entered Office | Left Office | Party | First Minister | Name | 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 | Jack McConnell |
| | Frank McAveety | | 21 May 2003 | 4 October 2004 | Labour Party | Jack McConnell |
| | Patricia Ferguson | | 4 October 2004 | 19 February 2007 | Labour Party | Jack McConnell |
| 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 |

### Junior Minister

Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport :

| Name | 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 Environment, Sport and Culture | Deputy Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture | Deputy Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture | Deputy Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs | Deputy Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs | Deputy Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs | Deputy Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs | | | | |
| Name | Name | Entered Office | Left Office | Party | First Minister | Name | 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 |
