The Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (), commonly referred to as the Constitution Secretary (), is a cabinet position in the
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government (, ) is the executive arm of the devolved government of Scotland. It was formed in 1999 as the Scottish Executive following the 1997 referendum on Scottish devolution, and is headquartered at St Andrew's House in ...
. The incumbent Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture is
Angus Robertson
Angus Struan Carolus Robertson (born 28 September 1969) is a Scottish politician serving as the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture since 2021. Formerly Depute Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from 201 ...
, who assumed office in May 2021.
The Cabinet Secretary was supported by the
Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development
The Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development was a junior ministerial post in the Scottish Government. As a result, the minister did not attend the Scottish Government#Cabinet, Scottish Cabinet.McLeish Government. After 2001 the Europe and External Affairs Brief was abolished as a ministerial position. From 1999 to 2001, the Culture brief was a junior post in the Scottish Government as Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport. It was made into a Cabinet position as Minister for Culture and Sport in the First McConnell government from 2001 to 2003. The
Second McConnell government
The second McConnell government (20 May 2003 – 16 May 2007) was formed following the 2003 general election to the 2nd Scottish Parliament. Jack McConnell was re-appointed as First Minister on 20 May 2003 and headed another Labour– Liber ...
from 2003 to 2007 combined the Culture and Sport brief with Tourism to form a Cabinet post in the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport. Culture was combined with External Affairs and Europe, to form a junior ministerial position, of Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture in the Salmond government following the
2007 Scottish Parliament election
The 2007 Scottish Parliament election was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the Scottish Parliament. It was the third general election to the devolved Scottish Parliament since it was created in 1999. 2007 Scottish local elections, ...
. In February 2009 the role was expanded to deal with constitutional issues this additional role was later removed in December 2009 following the publication of the
National Conversation
The National Conversation was the name given to the Scottish Government's public consultation exercise regarding possible future changes in the power of the devolved Scottish Parliament and the possibility of Scottish independence, a policy obje ...
. After the 2011 Scottish Parliament election the office-holder returned to the Cabinet with the junior ministerial post being transformed into the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs. After 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 Next Scottish Parliament election, election held since the devolved parliament was established in 1999. It ...
, the post was retitled Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs.
In February 2020 the existing Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs,
Fiona Hyslop
Fiona Jane Hyslop (born 1 August 1964) is a Scotland, Scottish politician who has served as Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, Cabinet Secretary for Transport since 2024. Hyslop has served in various offices under fir ...
took on additional responsibilities for economic matters from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy (that role becoming the Cabinet Secretary for Finance), whilst responsibility for external affairs was transferred to the Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations, with that post being renamed
Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs
The Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (), commonly referred to as the Constitution Secretary (), was a Scottish cabinet, cabinet position in the Scottish Government. In May 2021 the role also gained responsibi ...
. Tourism moved to the Rural Economy brief. On 19 May 2021 the position ceased to exist with the re-establishment of the roles of Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, and a separate Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture:
* British Irish Council
*broadcasting and screen
*communication with people, businesses and organisations regarding devolution, independence and Scotland's constitutional future
*architecture, creative Industries and supporting the creative workforce
*
Creative Scotland
Creative Scotland ( ; ) is the development body for the arts and creative industries in Scotland. Based in Edinburgh, it is an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government
The Scottish Government (, ) is the execut ...
*constitutional policy and strategy
*culture, community engagement and libraries
*cultural festivals
*culture policy
*
Europe
Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
and the
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...
including alignment
*
Historic Environment Scotland
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) () is an executive non-departmental public body responsible for investigating, caring for and promoting Scotland's historic environment. HES was formed in 2015 from the merger of government agency Historic Sc ...
*international development
*international strategy implementation
*independence strategy
*major events
*Museums and Galleries Scotland and cultural collections
*National Performing Companies
*
National Records of Scotland
National Records of Scotland () is a non-ministerial department of the Scottish Government. It is responsible for civil registration, the census in Scotland, demography and statistics, family history, as well as the national archives and hist ...
UNESCO World Heritage
World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an international treaty
A treaty is a formal, legally binding written agreement between sovereign states and/or international organizations that is governed by int ...
/intangible cultural heritage
*youth music initiative and youth arts
List of office holders
Cabinet position
See also
*
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament ( ; ) is the Devolution in the United Kingdom, devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. It is located in the Holyrood, Edinburgh, Holyrood area of Edinburgh, and is frequently referred to by the metonym 'Holyrood'. ...
*
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government (, ) is the executive arm of the devolved government of Scotland. It was formed in 1999 as the Scottish Executive following the 1997 referendum on Scottish devolution, and is headquartered at St Andrew's House in ...
Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...