Minister for Public Health
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The Minister for Public Health is a Junior ministerial post in the Scottish Government. The post was first created as Minister for Public Health in May 2007 after the appointment of the Scottish National Party minority administration. It was renamed in February 2009 and then again in 2011.
The Minister reports to the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport, who has overall responsibility for the portfolio, and is a member of cabinet. The Minister for Public Health has specific responsibility for public health, health improvement, pharmaceutical services, food safety and dentistry, community care, older people, mental health, learning disability, substance misuse and health promotion.[1]
The current Minister for Public Health is Maureen Watt MSP.
List of office holders
| Name | Portrait | Entered Office | Left Office | Party | First Minister | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shona Robison |  |
17 May 2007 | 10 Feb 2009 | Scottish National Party | Alex Salmond | |
| Shona Robison | |
11 Feb 2009 | 20 May 2011 | Scottish National Party | Alex Salmond | |
| Michael Matheson |  |
20 May 2011 | 21 November 2014 | Scottish National Party | Alex Salmond | |
| Maureen Watt |  |
21 November 2014 | Incumbent | Scottish National Party | Nicola Sturgeon | |
History
From 1999 to 2007, public health was the responsibility of the Minister for Health and Community Care and the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care. The Salmond government, elected following the 2007 elections, created the junior post of Minister for Public Health who assisted the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing in the Scottish Government.
In 2009, the post became the Minister for Public Health and Sport after assuming the Sport portfolio. From 2011, the post reverted to the title of Minister for Public Health and sport was once again separated off to a new Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport post.
The Minister does not attend the Scottish Cabinet.[2]
See also
References
- ↑ "Ministerial responsibilities: Health portfolio". Scottish Government. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
- ↑ 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".