Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands

The Cabinet Secretary was responsible for rural Scotland and its islands, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, aquaculture, food and drink, and crofting.

History

The position was created in 1999 as the Minister for Rural Affairs and renamed as the Minister for Rural Development in 2000 and again in 2001 as the Minister for the Environment and Rural Development. Following the 2007 election, the position of Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment was created, becoming the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment in a November 2014 reshuffle. Following the 2016 election, the position was re-titled Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity, but was again renamed in June 2018 to Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy, with connectivity passing to the new Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity. In the third Sturgeon government, the role was re-styled to Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands. In the first Yousaf government, the role was re-styled to Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands. In the second Swinney government, the role was merged and replaced by the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs.