Donald Dewar formed the Dewar government on 17 May 1999 following his appointment as the inaugural First Minister of Scotland. The first devolved executive of Scotland, it consisted of Scottish Labour and the Scottish Liberal Democrats, who formed a coalition on 14 May 1999. The government dissolved and was succeeded by the McLeish government in the aftermath of Dewar's death on 11 October 2000.
Cabinet
May 1999 to October 2000 +Cabinet of Donald DewarPortfolioPortraitMinisterTermPartyCabinet ministersFirst MinisterDonald Dewar 1999–2000LabourDeputy First MinisterJim Wallace QC 1999–2005Lib DemMinister for Justice 1999–2003Minister for FinanceJack McConnell 1999–2000LabourMinister for Health and Community CareSusan Deacon 1999–2000LabourMinister for CommunitiesWendy Alexander 1999–2000LabourMinister for Transport and the EnvironmentSarah Boyack 1999–2000LabourMinister for Enterprise and Lifelong LearningHenry McLeish 1999–2000LabourMinister for Rural AffairsRoss Finnie 1999–2000Lib DemMinister for Children and EducationSam Galbraith 1999–2000LabourAlso attending cabinet meetingsPermanent SecretaryMuir Russell1999–2003IndependentChief Whip and Government Business ManagerTom McCabe 1999–2000LabourLord Advocate Colin Boyd QC2000–2006Labour
Changes
Lord Hardie unexpectedly resigned from his post as Lord Advocate on 17 February 2000. The post was filled by the then Solicitor General, Colin Boyd, who was in turn replaced by Neil Davidson.
Junior ministers Junior ministersPostMinisterTermPartyDeputy Minister for Children and EducationPeter Peacock MSP 1999–2000 Labour PartyDeputy Minister for Culture and SportRhona Brankin MSP1999–2000Deputy Minister for Social Inclusion, Equality and the Voluntary SectorJackie Baillie MSP1999–2000Deputy Minister for Local GovernmentFrank McAveety MSP1999–2000Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong LearningNicol Stephen MSP 1999–2000Liberal DemocratsDeputy Minister for Highlands and Islands and GaelicAlasdair Morrison MSP 1999–2000 Labour PartyDeputy Minister for Health and Community CareIain Gray MSP1999–2000Deputy Minister for Justice (with particular responsibility for Land Reform)Angus MacKay MSP1999–2000Deputy Business Manager and Liberal Democrat WhipIain Smith MSP 1999–2000 Liberal DemocratsDeputy Minister for Rural Affairs (with particular responsibility for Fisheries)John Home Robertson MSP 1999–2000 Labour PartySolicitor General for ScotlandColin Boyd QCMay 1999–Feb. 2000Neil Davidson QCFeb. 2000–Oct. 2000
References