Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

Scotland
Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture
Scotland; Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture
Scottish Gaelic: Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Bun-reachd, Cùisean Taobh A-muigh agus Cultar
	Incumbent; Angus Robertson; since 20 May 2021
	Scottish Government; Scottish Cabinet
Style	Cabinet Secretary ; (within parliament); Constitution Secretary ; (informal); Scottish Constitution Secretary ; (outwith Scotland);
Member of	Scottish Parliament; Scottish Cabinet;
Reports to	Scottish Parliament; First Minister;
Seat	Edinburgh
Appointer	First Minister; (following approval from Scottish Parliament)
Inaugural holder	Jack McConnell ; Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs; Sam Galbraith ; Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture;
Formation	1 November 2000
Salary	£126,452 per annum (2024); (including £72,196 MSP salary)
Website	www.gov.scot

The Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (Scottish Gaelic: Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Bun-reachd, Cùisean Taobh A-muigh agus Cultar), commonly referred to as the Constitution Secretary (Scottish Gaelic: Rùnaire a’ Bhun-reachd), is a cabinet position in the Scottish Government. The incumbent Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture is Angus Robertson, who assumed office in May 2021.

The Cabinet Secretary was supported by the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development until May 2024.

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.^[2] 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.^[3] After the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, the post was retitled Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs.

In February 2020 the existing Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop took on additional responsibilities for economic matters from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy (that role becoming the Cabinet Secretary for Finance), whilst responsibility for external affairs was transferred to the Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations, with that post being renamed Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs. Tourism moved to the Rural Economy brief.^[4] On 19 May 2021 the position ceased to exist with the re-creation of the positions of Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy and the separate Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture reconstituted.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture:^[5]

British Irish Council
broadcasting and screen
communication with people, businesses and organisations regarding devolution, independence and Scotland's constitutional future
architecture, creative Industries and supporting the creative workforce
Creative Scotland
constitutional policy and strategy
culture, community engagement and libraries
cultural festivals
culture policy
Europe and the European Union including alignment
Historic Environment Scotland
international development
international strategy implementation
independence strategy
major events
Museums and Galleries Scotland and cultural collections
National Performing Companies
National Records of Scotland
other arts including performing arts, literature and poetry
Parliamentary co-ordination and liaison regarding devolution, independence and Scotland's constitutional future
royal and ceremonial
Scottish Connections
Scotland’s International Network
UNESCO World Heritage/intangible cultural heritage
youth music initiative and youth arts

List of office holders

Cabinet position

Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs							Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture
Name		Portrait	Entered Office	Left Office	Party	First Minister	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
	Frank McAveety		21 May 2003	4 October 2004	Labour Party
	Patricia Ferguson		4 October 2004	19 February 2007	Labour Party
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
Role reshuffled with Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy and Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture
	Fiona Hyslop		17 February 2020	19 May 2021	Scottish National Party	Nicola Sturgeon
Role reshuffled and merged with Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture
	Angus Robertson		20 May 2021	Incumbent	Scottish National Party	Nicola Sturgeon Humza Yousaf John Swinney

References

^ "MSP salaries". parliament.scot. The Scottish Parliament. 13 May 2024.
^ "Demoted minister backs successor". BBC News. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
^ Black, Andrew (20 May 2011). "At-a-glance: Scottish government cabinet". BBC News. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
^ "Cabinet Appointments". Scottish Government. 17 February 2020.
^ "Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture". Scottish Government. Retrieved 17 May 2024.

External links

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture Archived 16 May 2020 at the Wayback Machine on the Scottish Government website

[1] "MSP salaries". parliament.scot. The Scottish Parliament. 13 May 2024.

[2] "Demoted minister backs successor". BBC News. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2010.

[3] Black, Andrew (20 May 2011). "At-a-glance: Scottish government cabinet". BBC News. Retrieved 3 September 2014.

[4] "Cabinet Appointments". Scottish Government. 17 February 2020.

[sg-5] "Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture". Scottish Government. Retrieved 17 May 2024.

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v t e Scottish Cabinet
Swinney government
First Minister	John Swinney
Deputy First Minister	Kate Forbes
Cabinet Secretaries	Kate Forbes (Economy and Gaelic) Shona Robison (Finance and Local Government) Neil Gray (Health and Social Care) Jenny Gilruth (Education and Skills) Màiri McAllan (Net Zero and Energy) Fiona Hyslop (Transport) Mairi Gougeon (Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands) Angus Robertson (Constitution, External Affairs and Culture) Shirley-Anne Somerville (Social Justice) Angela Constance (Justice and Home Affairs)
May attend cabinet	Dorothy Bain (Lord Advocate) John-Paul Marks (Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government) Jamie Hepburn (Minister for Parliamentary Business) Colin McAllister (Chief of Staff to the First Minister)
Category Politics of Scotland