Cabinet and Ministers

The Scottish Cabinet

The Cabinet is the main decision-making body of the Scottish Government. It is made up of the First Minister, all Cabinet Secretaries, Minister for Parliamentary Business and Permanent Secretary. The Lord Advocate may also attend in his or her role as the Scottish Government’s principal legal adviser. Cabinet meetings are held weekly during Parliament in Bute House, Edinburgh, and may also be held at other times in locations throughout Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon

First Minister
John Swinney MSP

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery
Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
Humza Yousaf MSP

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
Kate Forbes MSP

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy
Keith Brown MSP

Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans
Mairi Gougeon MSP

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands
Angus Robertson MSP

Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture
Michael Matheson MSP

Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport
Shona Robison MSP

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government

Ministers

Cabinet Secretaries are supported by Ministers. Responsibilities and biographies of Ministers, including the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General (who are also the principal legal advisers to the Scottish Government), are below.