Universities Scotland has welcomed the appointment of Deputy First Minister, John Swinney MSP as Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills and Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP as Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science in the Scottish Cabinet reshuffle. The appointment of this portfolio reinforces the importance that The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has placed on education, attainment and improving opportunities for young people whatever their background.
Universities Scotland has worked closely with Mr Swinney during his tenure as Finance Secretary and looks forward to working with the Deputy First Minister and Ms Somerville MSP on our shared ambitions to widen access to higher education and to continue to provide a world-class, diverse and internationally competitive higher education sector.
Commenting on the new appointments, Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland said:
“On behalf of the higher education sector I would like to congratulate the Deputy First Minister on his appointment as Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills and Ms Somerville as Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science. Universities Scotland has worked constructively with Mr Swinney over the past few in our shared priorities for Scotland’s higher education sector, to ensure that our universities continue to make a significant contribution to Scotland’s economy and society. I and my colleagues within the sector look forward to maintaining this collaborative approach.”
Mr Sim also thanked Mr Swinney’s predecessor, Angela Constance, stating:
“ We have been grateful to Angela Constance MSP for her support for the higher education sector during her tenure as Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, as well as in her previous role as Minster for Youth Employment. I wish her well in her new role as Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities.”
The full Cabinet with portfolio responsibilities is as follows:
- First Minister: Nicola Sturgeon MSP
- Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills: John Swinney MSP
- Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution: Derek Mackay MSP
- Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport: Shona Robison MSP
- Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform: Roseanna Cunningham MSP
- Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs: Fiona Hyslop MSP
- Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities: Angela Constance MSP
- Cabinet Secretary for Justice: Michael Matheson MSP
- Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work: Keith Brown MSP
- Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity: Fergus Ewing MSP
Following the announcement of her Cabinet, The First Minister completed her ministerial team, which, with key appointments in education, childcare and employment underpins again the new Scottish Governments’ commitment to education, closing the attainment gap and working to ensure that all young people, no matter what their background, have the same opportunities in life.
In addition to Ms Somerville MSP, Paul Wheelhouse MSP (South Scotland Region) has been appointed as Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, and Jamie Hepburn MSP(Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) has the role of Minister for Employability and Training. Universities Scotland will look forward to working with the new Ministers as their work will cross portfolios, linking up education and the economy and reporting to both Mr Swinney and Mr Brown.
The full Scottish ministerial team is as follows:
- Minister for Childcare and Early Years – Mark McDonald
- Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science -Shirley-Anne Somerville
- Minister for Parliamentary Business -Joe FitzPatrick
- Minister for Transport and the Islands -Humza Yousaf
- Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy -Paul Wheelhouse
- Minister for Employability and Training -Jamie Hepburn (Reporting to cabinet secretaries for economy and education)
- Minister for Public Health and Sport -Aileen Campbell
- Minister for Mental Health-Maureen Watt
- Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs -Annabelle Ewing
- Minister for Local Government & Housing -Kevin Stewart
- Minister for Social Security -Jeane Freeman
- Minister for International Development and Europe -Alasdair Allan
The Scottish Government press release announcing the New Cabinet can be read here:
The Scottish Government press release announcing the Ministerial team can be found here: