Minister for Transport and Islands

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The Minister for Transport and Islands is a member of the Scottish Government who works to the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Capital Investment and Cities. As a Junior Minister the post holder is not a member of the Scottish Government Cabinet.

Responsibilities include: transport policy and delivery, public transport, road, rail services and infrastructure, air and ferry services, canals and cycling.

History

From the advent of devolution in 1999 the ministerial portfolios of transport and infrastructure were combined with Environment to form the Minister for Transport and the Environment. From 2000 to 2001, in the government of First Minister Henry McLeish, the environment brief was removed and replaced with planning and the officeholder was styled the Minister for Transport and Planning. The government of First Minister Jack McConnell, from November 2001 to May 2003, combined the transport, planning and infrastructure briefs with economic affairs and further education, headed by the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning.

The 2nd McConnell government from 2003, created a cabinet position for transport and infrastructure - the officeholder being titled the Minister for Transport. Following a government reshuffle in 2005, the position was renamed Minister for Transport and Telecommunications.

The government of First Minister Alex Salmond, elected after the May 2007 Scottish general election, reduced the size of the Scottish Cabinet. Overall responsibility for transport, infrastructure, planning and climate change, came under the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, however direct responsibility was vested in the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, a junior ministerial position within the Scottish Government. In 2010, Climate Change functions were transferred to the junior Environment Minister, with the portfolio becoming Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. After the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, the transport function was given to Alex Neil MSP, as Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment.

List of office holders

The current Minister for Transport and Islands is Derek Mackay MSP.[1]

Name Portrait Entered Office Left Office Party First Minister
Sarah Boyack 19 May 1999 29 October 2000 Labour Donald Dewar
Sarah Boyack 29 October 2000 27 November 2001 Labour Henry McLeish
Wendy Alexander 27 November 2001 3 May 2002 Labour Jack McConnell
Iain Gray 3 May 2002 20 May 2003 Labour
Nicol Stephen 20 May 2003 23 June 2005 Liberal Democrats Jack McConnell
Tavish Scott 29 June 2005 29 January 2006 Liberal Democrats
Tavish Scott 30 January 2006 17 May 2007 Liberal Democrats Jack McConnell
Stewart Stevenson 17 May 2007 11 December 2010 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond
Keith Brown 11 December 2010 19 May 2011 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond
Keith Brown 19 May 2011 5 September 2012 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond
Keith Brown 5 September 2012 21 November 2014 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond
Derek Mackay 21 November 2014 Incumbent Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon

References

See also

External links

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