Wikipedia

Minister for Transport (Junior Minister)

The Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity is a member of the Scottish Government who reports to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands. As a Junior Minister the post holder is not a member of the Scottish Government Cabinet.


Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity
Scottish Gaelic: Ministear airson Gnothaichean na Pàrlamaid
Incumbent
Jim Fairlie
since 20 February 2024
Style
  • Minister
    (within parliament)
  • Agriculture and Connectivity Minister
    (informal)
  • Scottish Agriculture and Connectivity Minister
    (outwith Scotland)
Member of
Reports to
SeatEdinburgh
AppointerFirst Minister
(following approval from Scottish Parliament)
Inaugural holderSarah Boyack
Minister for Transport and the Environment
Formation19 May 1999
Salary£106,185 per annum (2024)[1]
(including £72,196 MSP salary)
Websitewww.gov.scot

Overview

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The current minister is Jim Fairlie, who was appointed in February 2024 following Fiona Hyslop's appointment as Cabinet Secretary for Transport. Hyslop previously held the role as the junior Minister for Transport from June 2023 to February 2024.[2]

Current responsibilities include:[3]

  • Energy and energy consents
  • Renewable energy industries
  • Connectivity including 100% broadband
  • Cross government co-ordination on islands

History

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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 Investment.

List of office holders

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Minister for Transport and the Environment

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Name Portrait Term start Term end Party First Minister
Sarah Boyack   19 May 1999 29 October 2000 Labour Donald Dewar

Minister for Transport and Planning

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Sarah Boyack   29 October 2000 27 November 2001 Labour Henry McLeish

Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning

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Wendy Alexander   27 November 2001 3 May 2002 Labour Jack McConnell
Iain Gray   3 May 2002 20 May 2003

Minister for Transport and Telecommunications

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Nicol Stephen   20 May 2003 23 June 2005 Liberal Democrats Jack McConnell
Tavish Scott   29 June 2005 29 January 2006

Minister for Transport

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Tavish Scott   30 January 2006 17 May 2007 Liberal Democrats Jack McConnell

Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change

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Stewart Stevenson   17 May 2007 11 December 2010 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure

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Keith Brown[4]   11 December 2010 19 May 2011 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond

Minister for Housing and Transport

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Keith Brown   19 May 2011 5 September 2012 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond

Minister for Transport and Veterans

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Keith Brown   5 September 2012 21 November 2014 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond

Minister for Transport and Islands

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Derek Mackay   21 November 2014 18 May 2016 Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon

Minister for Transport and the Islands

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Humza Yousaf   18 May 2016 26 June 2018 Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon

Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands

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Paul Wheelhouse   27 June 2018 20 May 2021 Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon

Minister for Transport

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Graeme Dey   20 May 2021 24th January 2022 Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon
Jenny Gilruth   24 January 2022 29 March 2023
Kevin Stewart   29 March 2023 6 June 2023 Humza Yousaf
Fiona Hyslop   13 June 2023 20 February 2024

Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity

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Jim Fairlie   20 February 2024 Incumbent Scottish National Party Humza Yousaf
John Swinney

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "MSP salaries". parliament.scot. The Scottish Parliament. 10 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Fiona Hyslop becomes transport minister as Humza Yousaf changes Scottish Government portfolios". Holyrood Website. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands". Scottish Government. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  4. ^ Keith Brown named new Scottish transport minister, BBC news, 12 December 2010
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