The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (), commonly referred to as the Finance Secretary, is a member of the Cabinet in the Scottish Government. The Cabinet Secretary has Ministerial responsibility for the Scottish Government's Finance Directorates.
The post has been held by Jenny Gilruth since May 2026. Gilrith is additionally Deputy First Minister of Scotland.
History Following devolution in 1999, the Government of First Minister Donald Dewar instituted the position as the Minister for Finance, which was renamed the Minister for Finance and Local Government in the Government of Henry McLeish from 2000 to 2001. In the first Government of Jack McConnell, from 2001 to 2003, the position was renamed as the Minister for Finance and Public Services, changed to the Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform after a reshuffle of the Second McConnell government in 2004.
The first Government of Alex Salmond in 2007 combined the Minister for Finance element, with that of Enterprise and Transport to create the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth. After the 2011 election the position was named Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth and the transport portfolio was moved under the remit of another Cabinet position.
In November 2014, the first Sturgeon government renamed the position to Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy, and in 2016 it was again renamed to Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution. It was further renamed to Finance, Economy and Fair Work in June 2018, taking some additional responsibilities from the position of Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work which was abolished, but losing some constitutional responsibilities to the Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations. The title was shortened to simply Cabinet Secretary for Finance in February 2020, with the responsibilities of the former Economy Secretary separated again and transferred over to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture. The economic responsibilities of the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture were again combined with those of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance on 19 May 2021 in the position of Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy.
The title was renamed back to Cabinet Secretary for Finance upon the formation of the First Yousaf Government on 29 March 2023, with Deputy First Minister Shona Robison taking the office. Following John Swinney's government formation Robison was given additional responsibilities for local government as the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government.
Overview
Responsibilities The responsibilities of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government are: Text was copied from this source, which is available under an Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
infrastructure policy cross-government co-ordination (policy, investment, and commission) local government local government finance public sector reform policy, including civil service operations Scottish Futures Trust
Budget
exchequer and the public finances fiscal and taxation policy including Scottish Income Tax Fiscal Framework Review public sector pay Scottish Budget, budgetary monitoring and reporting, including Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) Scottish Fiscal Commission
Public bodies The following public bodies report to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government: Registers of Scotland Revenue Scotland Scottish Development International Scottish Fiscal Commission Scottish Futures Trust Scottish Public Pensions Agency VisitScotland
List of Office holders There have been nine office holders since the establishment of Scottish devolution. NamePortraitEntered officeLeft officePartyFirst MinisterMinister for Finance Jack McConnell 19 May 19991 November 2000Scottish LabourDonald Dewar Minister for Finance and Local Government Angus Mackay 2 November 200028 November 2001 Scottish LabourHenry McLeish Minister for Finance and Public Services Andy Kerr 28 November 20014 October 2004 Scottish LabourJack McConnell Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform Tom McCabe 4 October 200417 May 2007 Scottish LabourJack McConnell Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney 17 May 200719 May 2011Scottish National PartyAlex SalmondCabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth John Swinney19 May 201121 November 2014Scottish National PartyAlex SalmondCabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy John Swinney 21 November 201418 May 2016Scottish National PartyNicola SturgeonCabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution Derek Mackay18 May 201626 June 2018Scottish National PartyNicola SturgeonCabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work Derek Mackay26 June 20185 February 2020Scottish National PartyNicola SturgeonCabinet Secretary for Finance Kate Forbes17 February 202019 May 2021Scottish National PartyNicola SturgeonCabinet Secretary for Finance and Economy Kate Forbes19 May 202128 March 2023Scottish National PartyNicola Sturgeon John Swinney (acting)16 July 202228 March 2023Cabinet Secretary for Finance Shona Robison29 March 20238 May 2024Scottish National PartyHumza YousafCabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government Shona Robison8 May 2024 20 May 2026Scottish National PartyJohn Swinney Jenny Gilruth21 May 2026Incumbent
See also Cabinet (government) Government Minister Ministry
Notes
References
External links Scottish Government - Business and Industry Scottish Government - Economy Scottish Government - Planning Scottish Government - Transport