Cabinet Secretary for Finance

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, commonly referred to as the Finance Secretary, is a member of the Cabinet in the Scottish Government. The Cabinet Secretary has Ministerial responsibility for the Scottish Government's Finance Directorates. The post is currently held by Kate Forbes who replaced Derek Mackay on 17 February 2020.

History

Following devolution in 1999, the Government of First Minister Donald Dewar instituted the position as the Minister for Finance, which was renamed the Minister for Finance and Local Government in the Government of Henry McLeish from 2000 to 2001. In the first Government of Jack McConnell, from 2001 to 2003, the position was renamed as the Minister for Finance and Public Services, changed to the Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform after a reshuffle of the Second McConnell government in 2004. The first Government of Alex Salmond in 2007 combined the Minister for Finance element, with that of Enterprise and Transport to create the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth. After the 2011 election the position was named Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth and the transport portfolio was moved under the remit of another Cabinet position. In November 2014, the first Sturgeon government renamed the position to Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy, and in 2016 it was again renamed to Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution. It was further renamed to Finance, Economy and Fair Work in June 2018, taking some additional responsibilities from the position of Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work which was abolished, but losing some constitutional responsibilities to the Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations. The title was shortened to simply Cabinet Secretary for Finance in February 2020, with some responsibilities transferred over to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture.

Overview

Responsibilities

As Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work the responsibilities of the role were:
Scottish economy, inclusive growth, managing the public finances, fiscal policy and taxation, Scottish budget, budgetary monitoring and reporting, Government procurement, efficient government, National Performance Framework, public bodies policy, Scottish Futures Trust, Scottish Enterprise - national enterprise agency, trade and inward investment, trade unions, public sector pay, Scottish National Investment Bank, Registers of Scotland, digital economy and digital public services, public sector pensions, Innovation and increasing productivity, internationalisation and European Structural Funds, financial services, life sciences, low carbon economy, business, industry and manufacturing, employment policy, labour market strategy, the living wage and fair work, employability programmes, youth employment, women's employment, Bankruptcy and Accountant in Bankruptcy, Regional Economic Forums, PACE, Consumer Protection.

Public bodies

The following public bodies reported to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work:

Revenue Scotland
Scottish Futures Trust
Scottish National Investment Bank
Scottish Public Pensions Agency
Registers of Scotland
List of Office holders

Minister for Finance

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Minister for Finance and Local Government

Minister for Finance and Public Services

Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform