This blog provides a quick and accessible guide to the Scottish Cabinet and its responsibilities as overseen by the Cabinet Secretaries. As it is intended to give a brief overview, the responsibilities listed under each portfolio are not exhaustive and more detailed information about the Cabinet Secretaries and their portfolios is available on the Scottish Government website.
Scottish Cabinet – overview
The Cabinet is the main decision-making body of the Scottish Government. It consists of the First Minister, who has overall responsibility for the government, and Cabinet Secretaries, who each lead a portfolio area such as health, education, justice or finance. Portfolios also include responsibility for overseeing Scotland’s public bodies – publicly funded organisations that carry out public functions and services on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Cabinet Secretaries are supported by Junior Ministers, often just referred to as Ministers. Junior Ministers are often assigned specific areas within a portfolio.
*Correct as of August 2026*
Use the links below to quickly navigate to the portfolios.
Finance and Local Government
Health and Care
Economy, Tourism and Transport
Justice
Climate Action and Rural Affairs
Education, Culture and Gaelic
Public Service Reform
Social Justice and Housing
Finance and Local Government
Responsibilities
- Scottish budget and taxation
- Local government finance and oversight
Associated public body
Cabinet Secretary
Jenny Gilruth MSP, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government
Supported by
Minister for Public Finance
Health and Care
Responsibilities
- NHS, including primary care, general practice and acute services
- Adult social care
Associated public bodies
Cabinet Secretary
Angela Constance MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care
Supported by
Minister for Community Care
Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs
Economy, Tourism and Transport
Responsibilities
- Economy
- Business and industry
- Tourism
- Public transport
- Roads and road safety
- Aviation
Associated public bodies
Cabinet Secretary
Stephen Flynn MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport
Supported by
Minister for Business and Fair Work
Justice
Responsibilities
- Justice
- Violence reduction
- Police and prison service
Associated public bodies
- Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
- Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
- Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
Cabinet Secretary
Neil Gray MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice
Supported by
Minister for Victims and Community Safety
Climate Action and Rural Affairs
Responsibilities
- Net Zero and circular economy
- Climate change
- Rural policy and land reform
Associated public bodies
Cabinet Secretary
Gillian Martin MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs
Supported by
Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands
Education, Culture and Gaelic
Responsibilities
- Schools, teaching and qualifications
- Childcare
- Arts and culture
- Gaelic, Scots, BSL
Associated public bodies
Cabinet Secretary
MÃ iri McAllan MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic
Supported by
Minister for Children, Young People, and The Promise
Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education
Public Service Reform
Responsibilities
- Public sector reform
- National Performance Framework
Cabinet Secretary
Ivan McKee MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform
Supported by
Minister for Public Finance
Social Justice and Housing
Responsibilities
- Poverty and inequality
- Social security
- Housing policy and homelessness
Associated public body
Cabinet Secretary
Shirley‑Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing
Supported by
Minister for Equalities and International Development
Lena Phalen, Enquiries Officer
Featured image credit: Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash