The Minister for Public Health, Women's Health and Sport is a
Junior minister
A minister is a politician who heads a ministry (government department), ministry, making and implementing decisions on policies in conjunction with the other ministers. In some jurisdictions the head of government is also a minister and is desi ...
ial post in the
Scottish Government. The post was first created as Minister for Public Health in May 2007 after the appointment of the
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party (SNP; sco, Scots National Pairty, gd, Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba ) is a Scottish nationalist and social democratic political party in Scotland. The SNP supports and campaigns for Scottish independence from ...
minority administration. It was renamed in February 2009, with further renamings in 2011, 2016 and 2018.
The Minister reports to the
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, commonly referred to as the Health Secretary, is a cabinet position in the Scottish Government. The Cabinet Secretary is responsible for the Health and Social Care Directorates and NHS Scotland.
...
, who has overall responsibility for the portfolio, and is a member of cabinet. The current Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing is
Mairi Gougeon
Mairi Angela Gougeon ( née Evans; born 23 April 1985) is a Scottish politician who has served as Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands since 2021. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), she has been the Member of the Scottis ...
MSP.
Overview
The Minister has specific responsibility for:
*COVID-19 testing programme
*Health improvement
*Public health and healthy working lives
*Physical activity, sport, sporting events and events legacy
*Problem alcohol use and recovery
*Care Inspectorate
*Carers
*Child and maternal health (excluding mental health)
*Health protection
*Person-centred care
*Self-directed support
*Sexual health
List of office holders
History
From 1999 to 2007, public health was the responsibility of the
Minister for Health and Community Care and the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care. The
Salmond government, elected following the
2007 elections
The following elections occurred in the year 2007.
* Electoral calendar 2007
* Elections in 2007
* 2007 United Nations Security Council election
Africa
* 52nd National Conference of the African National Congress
* 2007 Algerian legislative el ...
, created the junior post of Minister for Public Health who assisted the
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, commonly referred to as the Health Secretary, is a cabinet position in the Scottish Government. The Cabinet Secretary is responsible for the Health and Social Care Directorates and NHS Scotland.
...
in the Scottish Government.
In 2009, the post became the Minister for Public Health and Sport after assuming the Sport portfolio. From 2011, the post reverted to the title of Minister for Public Health and sport was once again separated off to a new Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport post. Following the
2016 Scottish Parliament election
The 2016 Scottish parliament election was held on Thursday, 5 May 2016 to elect 129 members to the Scottish Parliament. It was the fifth election held since the devolved parliament was established in 1999. It was the first parliamentary electi ...
, Nicola Sturgeon recreated the old Minister for Public Health and Sport post.
The Minister does not attend the
Scottish Cabinet.
Scotland Act (1998)
''Only those appointed under Section 47 of the Scotland Act "attend" Cabinet. Junior ministers are appointed under Section 49 and may be "present".''
See also
* Scottish Government
*Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament ( gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ; sco, Scots Pairlament) is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. Located in the Holyrood area of the capital city, Edinburgh, it is frequently referred to by the metonym Holyro ...
*Question Time
A question time in a parliament occurs when members of the parliament ask questions of government ministers (including the prime minister), which they are obliged to answer. It usually occurs daily while parliament is sitting, though it can be ca ...
References
External links
Minister for Public Health and Sport
on Scottish Government website
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Public Health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the det ...
Health in Scotland
2007 establishments in Scotland
Public health in the United Kingdom
Health ministers of Scotland