Minister for Social Security and Local Government

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The Minister for Social Security and Local Government is a junior ministerial post in the Scottish Government. As a result, the Minister does not attend the Scottish Cabinet. [1] The minister supports the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, who has overall responsible for the portfolio. [2]

Contents

The Minister for Social Security and Local Government is Ben Macpherson MSP, who was appointed on 20 May 2021. [2]

Overview

The Minister has responsibility for:

History

In 2011, the position of Minister for Local Government and Planning was created; the portfolio changed in November 2014 following a reshuffle by Nicola Sturgeon when she became First Minister of Scotland. The post was rebranded at that point to Minister for Local Government and Community Empowerment.

In September 2012, the junior post of Minister for Housing and Welfare was announced, with a portfolio intended to reflect the important role of housing in aiding economic recovery and the challenges that face those in poverty. In May 2016, Nicola Sturgeon reshuffled junior ministers and the post joined local government and housing in a new Minister for Local Government and Housing role. Planning was added to the title in June 2018. The title was changed in May 2021 at the start of the third Sturgeon government, with the post also taking responsibility for social security, which between 2018 and 2021 was the responsibility of a separate cabinet-level post, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People. [3] [2]

List of office holders

Minister for Local Government and Planning

NamePortraitEntered OfficeLeft OfficeParty
Aileen Campbell Aileen Campbell.jpg 25 May 20115 December 2011 Scottish National Party
Derek Mackay DerekMacKayMSP20110509.JPG 6 December 201121 November 2014 Scottish National Party

Minister for Local Government and Community Empowerment

Marco Biagi Marco Biagi.JPG 21 November 201418 May 2016 Scottish National Party

Minister for Local Government and Housing

Kevin Stewart KevinStewartMSP20110507.JPG 18 May 201627 June 2018 Scottish National Party

Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning

Kevin Stewart KevinStewartMSP20110507.JPG 27 June 201820 May 2021 Scottish National Party

Minister for Social Security and Local Government

Ben Macpherson Minister for Social Security and Local Government, Ben MacPherson (51189847141).jpg 20 May 2021 Incumbent Scottish National Party

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References

  1. Scotland Act (1998), Only those appointed under Section 47 of the Scotland Act "attend" Cabinet. Junior ministers are appointed under Section 49 and may be "present".
  2. 1 2 3 "New Scottish Cabinet". Scottish Government. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning". Scottish Government. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.