The Minister for Transport is a member of the Scottish Government who reports to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition. As a Junior Minister the post holder is not a member of the Scottish Government Cabinet.

Overview

The current minister is Fiona Hyslop, who was appointed in June 2023.[1]

Responsibilities include:[2]

  • Energy and energy consents
  • Renewable energy industries
  • Connectivity including 100% broadband
  • Cross government co-ordination on islands

History

From the advent of devolution in 1999, the ministerial portfolios of transport and infrastructure were combined with Environment to form the Minister for Transport and the Environment. From 2000 to 2001, in the government of First Minister Henry McLeish, the environment brief was removed and replaced with planning and the officeholder was styled the Minister for Transport and Planning. The government of First Minister Jack McConnell, from November 2001 to May 2003, combined the transport, planning and infrastructure briefs with economic affairs and further education, headed by the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning.

The 2nd McConnell government from 2003, created a cabinet position for transport and infrastructure - the officeholder being titled the Minister for Transport. Following a government reshuffle in 2005, the position was renamed Minister for Transport and Telecommunications.

The government of First Minister Alex Salmond, elected after the May 2007 Scottish general election, reduced the size of the Scottish Cabinet. Overall responsibility for transport, infrastructure, planning and climate change, came under the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, however direct responsibility was vested in the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, a junior ministerial position within the Scottish Government. In 2010, Climate Change functions were transferred to the junior Environment Minister, with the portfolio becoming Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. After the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, the transport function was given to Alex Neil MSP, as Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment.

List of office holders

Minister for Transport and the Environment

Name Portrait Entered Office Left Office Party First Minister
Sarah Boyack 19 May 1999 29 October 2000 Labour Donald Dewar

Minister for Transport and Planning

Sarah Boyack 29 October 2000 27 November 2001 Labour Henry McLeish

Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning

Wendy Alexander 27 November 2001 3 May 2002 Labour Jack McConnell
Iain Gray 3 May 2002 20 May 2003

Minister for Transport and Telecommunications

Nicol Stephen 20 May 2003 23 June 2005 Liberal Democrats Jack McConnell
Tavish Scott 29 June 2005 29 January 2006

Minister for Transport

Tavish Scott 30 January 2006 17 May 2007 Liberal Democrats Jack McConnell

Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change

Stewart Stevenson 17 May 2007 11 December 2010 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure

Keith Brown[3] 11 December 2010 19 May 2011 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond

Minister for Housing and Transport

Keith Brown 19 May 2011 5 September 2012 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond

Minister for Transport and Veterans

Keith Brown 5 September 2012 21 November 2014 Scottish National Party Alex Salmond

Minister for Transport and Islands

Derek Mackay 21 November 2014 18 May 2016 Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon

Minister for Transport and the Islands

Humza Yousaf 18 May 2016 26 June 2018 Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon

Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands

Paul Wheelhouse 27 June 2018 20 May 2021 Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon

Minister for Transport

Graeme Dey 20 May 2021 24th January 2022 Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon
Jenny Gilruth 24 January 2022 29 March 2023
Kevin Stewart 29 March 2023 6 June 2023 Humza Yousaf
Fiona Hyslop 14 June 2023 Incumbent

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Fiona Hyslop becomes transport minister as Humza Yousaf changes Scottish Government portfolios". Holyrood Website. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  2. ↑ "Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands". Scottish Government. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  3. ↑ Keith Brown named new Scottish transport minister, BBC news, 12 December 2010
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