The Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise is a junior ministerial post in the Scottish Government. As a junior minister, the holder does not attend the Scottish Cabinet. The incumbent reports to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, who has overall responsibility for the portfolio, and is a member of Cabinet.
The Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise has specific responsibility for the social services workforce, childcare and preschool, children's services, children's hearings and the Care Inspectorate. The current holder of the role is Siobhian Brown who was appointed in May 2026 upon the formation of the Second Swinney government.
Overview The post holder is responsible for:
adoption and fostering Bairn's Hoose (reporting jointly with Minister for Victims and Community Safety) child protection children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism children's hearings children's rights children's services Creating Positive Futures Disclosure Scotland early years kinship carers looked after children outdoor learning play, including play parks protection of vulnerable groups The Promise - reports to First Minister transitions for those with disabilities and/or autism
History From 1999 to 2000, responsibility for Children and Early Years rested with the Minister for Children and Education, which became the Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs in the McLeish Government of 2000 to 2001. From 2001 to 2007 the portfolio rested with the Minister for Education and Young People.
The Salmond government, elected following the 2007 Scottish Parliament election created the junior post of the Minister for Children and Early Years to assist the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. The post was renamed Minister for Children and Young People in June 2018.
The post was further renamed in March 2023 when Humza Yousaf became First Minister to Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise, before later being changed to Minister for Children, Young People and the Promise when Yousaf was replaced by John Swinney. This was to further the work that the Scottish Government had taken forward for those young people who are or had been care experienced.
Minister The current Minister for Children, Young People and the Promise is Siobhian Brown.
NamePortraitEntered officeLeft officePartyFirst Minister Minister for Children and the Early Years Adam Ingram 17 May 200720 May 2011Scottish National PartyAlex Salmond Minister for Children and Young People Angela Constance 20 May 20117 December 2011Scottish National PartyAlex Salmond Aileen Campbell 7 December 201118 December 2014 (on maternity leave)Scottish National PartyAlex Salmond Nicola Sturgeon Fiona McLeod 18 December 201431 August 2015Scottish National PartyNicola Sturgeon Aileen Campbell 31 August 201518 May 2016Scottish National PartyNicola Sturgeon Minister for Childcare and Early Years Mark McDonald18 May 20167 November 2017Scottish National PartyNicola Sturgeon Maree Todd7 November 201727 June 2018Scottish National PartyNicola Sturgeon Minister for Children and Young People Maree Todd27 June 201820 May 2021Scottish National PartyNicola Sturgeon Clare Haughey20 May 202128 March 2023Scottish National PartyNicola Sturgeon Minister for Children, Young People and the Promise Natalie Don28 March 202320 May 2026Scottish National PartyHumza YousafJohn Swinney Siobhian Brown20 May 2026IncumbentScottish National PartyJohn Swinney
See also Scottish Parliament Scottish Government
References
External links Cabinet and Ministers on Scottish Government website Minister for Children and Young People on Scottish Government website