Members of the cabinet are usually appointed on the decision of the first minister, as well as individual interests in obtaining a Cabinet Secretary position along with prior experience as an MSP.[2] Decisions made by the cabinet are subject to scrutiny from the Scottish Parliament on matters such as the budget and spending allocation.[3] Cabinet ministers are free to openly discuss and share their opinions on matters at cabinet meetings, however, once decisions have been agreed, whether they agree or disagree, ministers are expected to "put on a united front" for the purpose of promoting government policy.[4]
The cabinet meets each Tuesday within the Cabinet Room located in Bute House in Edinburgh, the official residence of the first minister. If required, the cabinet will meet during periods of parliamentary recess, and is supported by Cabinet Sub-Committees. The sub–committees of the cabinet have delegated authority from the cabinet to take decisions on any legislative matter which do not require full cabinet consideration.[5]
Following his appointment as First Minister, Alex Salmond replaced the term "minister" for members of his cabinet with the term "cabinet secretaries".[8] One of the first decisions by Salmond as First Minister was to reduce the number of cabinet secretaries attending cabinet to six, a move which promoted as a key move in "efficient government agenda".[9]
Following the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, the SNP returned to government, forming a majority government, the first time in the history of the Scottish Parliament.[10] The Second Salmond government was increased in size, from five cabinet secretaries to eight.[11] Salmond's second cabinet was formed on 19 May 2011 and dissolved on 18 November 2014, following his resignation as first minister following the defeat of the Yes Scotland campaign in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.[12] Salmond's deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, succeeded him as first minister, forming her government cabinet on 20 November 2014. It was formed of ten people: Sturgeon and nine cabinet secretaries. It was gender-balanced with five men and five women.[13] There were thirteen junior ministerial positions outwith the cabinet.[14]
Sturgeon formed her third cabinet following election victory in the 2021 election, with her third and final cabinet forming on 19 May 2021 and dissolving on 28 March 2023 following her decision to resign as first minister.[15][16]
Humza Yousaf succeeded Sturgeon as first minister, forming his first cabinet of the Scottish Government on 29 March 2023. His cabinet was dissolved on 25 April 2024 following his decision to withdraw the SNP from the Bute House Agreement.[17] His second cabinet was formed amongst a political crisis and was releatively short lived, formed on 25 April 2024 and dissolving on 7 May 2024 following his resignation as first minister.[18]John Swinney was appointed first minister in May 2024, forming the incumbent Scottish cabinet on 8 May 2024.[19]
From the establishment of the Scottish Government in 1999 until the election of Alex Salmond as first minister in 2007, the Lord Advocate was a regular attendee at meetings of the cabinet. After becoming first minister in May 2007, Salmond decided to depoliticise the role of the Lord Advocate by implementing a convention that would see the Lord Advocate only attend cabinet meetings when legal advice was to be given only, and did not participate in wider political debate as they had done from 1999. As a result, the number of occasions where the Lord Advocate would attend cabinet meetings was significantly reduced.[20]
The Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government attends all meetings of the cabinet in their capacity as the principal advisor on government policy to the first minister and secretary to the Scottish cabinet. Additionally, the Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government serves as the principal accountable officer to the government, with overall responsibility on matters relating to the government's money and resources.[21] Unlike other members of the Scottish cabinet, the Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government is accountable to the Scottish Parliament and not the first minister, as is the case with the cabinet secretaries within the Scottish cabinet.[22]
The Minister for Parliamentary Business is the only Scottish Government junior minister who regularly attends meetings of the Scottish cabinet.[23] The minister is directly responsible for Boundaries Scotland, Freedom Of Information (FOI) requests, government and parliamentary business, government statistics, local government elections, the Office of the Chief Researcher, open government and Citizens' Assemblies and Scottish Parliamentary elections. The Minister for Parliamentary Business advises and informs the cabinet on each of these areas, as well as directly supporting the first minister in their functions.[24] The Chief of Staff to the First Minister may also attend cabinet meetings at the request of the first minister.[25]
Each first minister has selected their own cabinet during their term in office. For comprehensive listing of the cabinets appointed by each first minister, see:
As of 2024, a total of fifty-two travelling cabinet meetings have been undertaken by the Scottish cabinet. Members of the cabinet will travel to other parts of Scotland, out-with Bute House in Edinburgh, to discuss local issues and gather public opinions on a range of government policies and objectives.
In October 2024, the Scottish cabinet travelled to Ayr in South Ayrshire, chaired by the first minister. The cabinet toured local businesses and projects to highlight the objectives of the Scottish Government.
First Minister, John Swinney, said the travelling cabinet "connects with communities across the country and enables us to make informed decisions as we strive to create a wealthier, fairer and greener Scotland".[26]
Scottish Cabinet
Cabinet Secretaries (attending Cabinet)
As of 21September2025,[update] the makeup of the current Cabinet is as follows:[1]
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