The Minister for Transport was a member of the Scottish Government who reports to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands. As a Junior Minister the post holder was not a member of the Scottish Government Cabinet.
Overview The current minister is Jim Fairlie, who was appointed in February 2024 following Fiona Hyslop's appointment as Cabinet Secretary for Transport. Hyslop previously held the role as the junior Minister for Transport from June 2023 to February 2024.
Responsibilities included:
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 NamePortraitTerm start Term endPartyFirst Minister Sarah Boyack 19 May 199929 October 2000Scottish LabourDonald DewarMinister for Transport and Planning Sarah Boyack 29 October 200027 November 2001Scottish LabourHenry McLeish Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Wendy Alexander 27 November 20013 May 2002Scottish LabourJack McConnell Iain Gray 3 May 200220 May 2003 Minister for Transport and Telecommunications Nicol Stephen 20 May 200323 June 2005Liberal DemocratsJack McConnell Tavish Scott 29 June 200529 January 2006Minister for Transport Tavish Scott 30 January 200617 May 2007Liberal DemocratsJack McConnell Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Stewart Stevenson 17 May 200711 December 2010Scottish National PartyAlex SalmondMinister for Transport and Infrastructure Keith BrownKeith Brown named new Scottish transport minister, BBC news, 12 December 2010 11 December 201019 May 2011Scottish National PartyAlex SalmondMinister for Housing and Transport Keith Brown19 May 20115 September 2012 Scottish National PartyAlex SalmondMinister for Transport and Veterans Keith Brown 5 September 2012 21 November 2014Scottish National PartyAlex SalmondMinister for Transport and Islands Derek Mackay21 November 201418 May 2016Scottish National PartyNicola SturgeonMinister for Transport and the Islands Humza Yousaf18 May 201626 June 2018Scottish National PartyNicola SturgeonMinister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands Paul Wheelhouse27 June 201819 May 2021Scottish National PartyNicola SturgeonMinister for Transport Graeme Dey20 May 202124 January 2022Scottish National PartyNicola Sturgeon Jenny Gilruth24 January 202229 March 2023 Kevin Stewart29 March 20236 June 2023 Humza Yousaf Fiona Hyslop13 June 202320 February 2024Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity Jim Fairlie20 February 2024IncumbentScottish National PartyHumza YousafJohn Swinney
See also Scottish Parliament Question Time Scottish Government
References
External links Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands on the Scottish Government website