Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs

Scotland
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The Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs is a Junior ministerial post in the Scottish Government. As a result, the minister does not attend[1] the Scottish Cabinet. The post was created in May 2007 after the appointment of the Scottish National Party minority administration and the minister reports to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, who has overall responsibility for the portfolio, and is a member of cabinet.

The Minister for Community Safety has specific responsibility for anti-social behaviour, sectarianism, human rights and fire and rescue services.[2] Community safety, civil contingencies, drugs policy and related matters, liquor licensing, vulnerable witnesses, victim support and civil law, charity law, religious and faith organisations are other matters for which the minister has responsibility.[2]

History

From 1999 to 2007 responsibility for Community Safety rested with the Minister for Justice and the Deputy Minister for Justice. The Salmond government, elected following the 2007 Scottish Parliament election created the junior post of the Minister for Community Safety who assists the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, in the Scottish Executive Justice Department. After the 2011 Scottish Parliament election the post was renamed Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs and was given additional responsibilities for tackling sectarianism.

List of office holders

The current Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs is Paul Wheelhouse MSP.

Name Portrait Entered office Left office Party First Minister
Angus MacKay 19 May 1999 2 November 2000 Labour Donald Dewar
Iain Gray 2 November 2000 28 November 2001 Labour Henry McLeish
Richard Simpson 28 November 2001 26 November 2002 Labour Jack McConnell
Hugh Henry 28 November 2002 14 November 2006 Labour
Johann Lamont 16 November 2006 17 May 2007 Labour
Fergus Ewing 17 May 2007 20 May 2011 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond
Roseanna Cunningham 20 May 2011 21 November 2014 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond
Paul Wheelhouse 21 November 2014 18 May 2016 Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon
Annabelle Ewing 18 May 2016 Incumbent Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon

See also

References

  1. ↑ 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".
  2. 1 2 "Ministerial responsibilities: Justice portfolio". Scottish Government. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2014.


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