Scottish Executive - Definition and Overview

Politics of Scotland

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The Scottish Executive (Riaghaltas na h-Alba in Gaelic) is the executive arm of the Scottish Parliament. It consists of a First Minister who heads it and various ministers with individual portfolios and remits. The Parliament elects the First Minister and Executive, although any party/parties that can form a majority select the First Minister, who chooses the other members thereafter.

Similar to the UK-wide form of government there is no division between Executive and Legislature, with the members of the Scottish Executive being chosen from amongst the Members of the Scottish Parliament. The members of the Executive are therefore able to influence, and in practice dictate legislation in Scotland.

The Scottish Executive is currently formed from a coalition between the Labour Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats. Current First Minister is Jack McConnell.

The Scottish Executive is also the name for the Scottish civil service which supports it.

Members

• First Minister - Jack McConnell
• Deputy First Minister, Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning - Jim Wallace
• Minister for Justice - Cathy Jamieson
• Minister for Health and Community Care - Andy Kerr
• Minister for Education and Young People - Peter Peacock
• Minister for Finance and Public Services - Tom McCabe
• Minister for Environment and Rural Development - Ross Finnie
• Minister for Communities - Malcolm Chisholm
• Minister for Parliamentary Business - Margaret Curran
• Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport - Patricia Ferguson
• Minister for Transport - Nicol Stephen

• Lord Advocate - Colin Boyd
• Solicitor General - Elish Angiolini

• Deputy Minister for Lifelong Learning - Allan Wilson
• Deputy Minister for Justice - Hugh Henry
• Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care - Rhona Brankin
• Deputy Minister for Education and Young People - Euan Robeson
• Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Services - Tavish Scott
• Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development - Lewis Macdonald
• Deputy Minister for Communities - Johann Lamont
• Deputy Minister for Parliamentary Business - Tavish Scott

See also: Politics of Scotland, UK Politics

External Link

• Scottish Executive Website (http://www.scotland.gov.uk)