Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development and Minister with special responsibility for Refugees from Ukraine
Neil Gray was appointed Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development in January 2022. Neil was given responsibility for the Scottish Government’s approach to supporting Ukrainian refugees arriving and living in Scotland in March 2022.
Responsibilities
Supports the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture.
Specific responsibilities are:
- support for European and external relations
- international development
- major events
- creative industries
- Scotland Touring Fund for Theatre and Music
- Youth Music Initiative
- Creative Scotland and other arts
- cultural collections
- major events and themed years
- National Towns of Culture
- Historic Environment Scotland
- national performing companies
- youth national performing companies
- Fair Trade
- architecture, place and built heritage
Biography
Neil Gray was born and brought up in Orkney and was educated at Kirkwall Grammar School. He graduated from the University of Stirling in 2008 with a first-class Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in politics and journalism.
He was elected to represent Airdrie and Shotts Constituency at the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.
He had previously won the Airdrie and Shotts Westminster seat in 2015 and held it on two subsequent occasions before resigning to stand for the same area in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election. Prior to becoming an MP, Mr Gray worked for former Scottish Government Health Secretary Alex Neil MSP as his Airdrie and Shotts constituency office manager.
- Read more about Neil Gray on the Scottish Parliament website.
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