Scottish Government

Scottish Government
Government name	Scottish Government
Border	Scottish
Caption	St Andrew's House in Edinburgh, the main headquarters.
Date	1999
State	Scotland
Country	United Kingdom
Address	St Andrew's House, Regent Road, Edinburgh
Leader title	First Minister
Appointed	Monarch (upon nomination by the Scottish Parliament)
Main organ	Scottish Cabinet
Ministries	26 ministerial departments
Budget	£59.7 billion (2024-25)
Url	[https://www.gov.scot/ www.gov.scot]

Scottish Government. The Scottish Government is the devolved executive authority for Scotland, responsible for governing most domestic affairs. It was established in 1999 following the first elections to the reconvened Scottish Parliament under the Scotland Act 1998. Led by the First Minister of Scotland, it is accountable to the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood and exercises powers over a wide range of policy areas including health, education, and justice.

History

The creation of the Scottish Government followed a 1997 referendum which endorsed the establishment of a devolved legislature. The first administration, led by Donald Dewar of the Scottish Labour Party, took office after the 1999 Scottish Parliament election. Initially titled the Scottish Executive, its name was formally changed in 2007 by the Scottish National Party administration of Alex Salmond. Key historical developments include the expansion of its fiscal powers through the Scotland Act 2012 and Scotland Act 2016, particularly following the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. The government's headquarters have been primarily based in St Andrew's House on Regent Road in Edinburgh.

Structure and powers

The structure of the Scottish Government is defined by the Scotland Act 1998 and subsequent amendments. It consists of the Scottish Cabinet, led by the First Minister of Scotland, and multiple ministerial departments. The government's powers are largely derived from the reserved powers model outlined in the Scotland Acts, meaning it can legislate on any matter not explicitly reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom at Westminster. Reserved matters include areas such as defence, foreign policy, and constitutional affairs. The government's legal authority is exercised through Acts of the Scottish Parliament and its civil service is part of the wider UK Civil Service.

Ministers and cabinet

The First Minister of Scotland is nominated by the Scottish Parliament and formally appointed by the Monarch. The First Minister then appoints other Scottish Ministers, including Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers, who are subject to approval by the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Cabinet is the main collective decision-making body, comprising the senior ministers. Key figures have included former First Ministers Jack McConnell, Henry McLeish, and Nicola Sturgeon. The current Lord Advocate and Solicitor General for Scotland, while not cabinet members, are the principal legal advisers.

Responsibilities and policy areas

The Scottish Government holds executive responsibility for most domestic policy in Scotland. Major devolved areas include the NHS Scotland, overseen by Public Health Scotland, and education, administered through bodies like the Scottish Qualifications Authority. It also sets policy for justice, including the Police Scotland and the Scottish Prison Service, transport via Transport Scotland, and environmental matters through SEPA. Other significant portfolios include social security, housing, agriculture, and economic development, with agencies such as Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland operating under its auspices.

Relationship with the UK Government

The Scottish Government operates within the constitutional framework of the United Kingdom and interacts with the UK Government on matters of shared interest. Formal relations are often conducted through the Joint Ministerial Committee and the office of the Secretary of State for Scotland. Disputes over competence are ultimately adjudicated by the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, as seen in cases such as the reference on the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill. Funding is primarily determined through the Barnett formula, and the government must cooperate with UK-wide bodies like His Majesty's Revenue and Customs on certain fiscal matters.

Finance and budget

The Scottish Government's funding originates from a combination of a block grant from the UK Treasury, devolved taxes, and limited borrowing powers. Devolved taxes include Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and Scottish Income Tax, collected by Revenue Scotland. The annual budget is presented to the Scottish Parliament by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, outlining expenditure across portfolios. Major spending areas are typically health, led by NHS Scotland, and education, including local authorities like Glasgow City Council. The government's capital borrowing is constrained by limits set in the Scotland Act 2012 and its revenue forecasting is supported by the Scottish Fiscal Commission.

Category:Scottish Government Category:Devolved governments in the United Kingdom Category:1999 establishments in Scotland