The First Minister chaired the first meeting of his new Scottish Cabinet in Bute House yesterday, charging Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers to take a bold approach to delivering for Scotland.
Cabinet had a substantive discussion on the priorities of the government, ahead of the First Minister giving a planned statement to parliament immediately after recess. They had a further conversation around the budget that will underpin those priorities.
Friday’s discussion highlighted the importance of being an open, accessible government through engagement with the public and stakeholders and by reaching out to members of other parties in a genuine spirit of collaboration.
It also stressed the importance of building relationships with counterparts in other devolved administrations and the UK Government.
Cabinet members also reflected on their experiences in their previous ministerial portfolios and how that often brings useful perspective when taking on roles in different areas of government.
As always, a discussion on the immediate issues Cabinet members will be addressing in the coming weeks took place.
First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “I was pleased to welcome new and returning Cabinet members to our first meeting this morning. I was clear to them that I want Cabinet to be a forum for open and honest discussion.
“We all look forward to reaching out to stakeholders, the business community, opposition parties and the wider public in a spirit of genuine collaboration.
“This government has a strong track of taking forward ambitious and radical policies and reforms over the last few years, against a backdrop of austerity, economic uncertainty and of course the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Under my leadership the Ministerial team have been tasked with taking a bold approach to how we govern – not just in addressing the challenges facing the people of Scotland, but also maximising the opportunities of our many strengths.
“Our key priorities will include eradicating poverty and delivering a wellbeing economy underpinned by sustainable public services.
“I will set out more detail to parliament following Easter recess – but in the next couple of weeks, Cabinet members will be busy getting down to work on the immediate issues in their portfolios.”
First Minister Humza Yousaf has unveiled his Cabinet team with five members aged under 40 and, for the first time ever, a majority of women.
In a Cabinet of ten that sees the Economy established as a portfolio in its own right:
Shona Robison, the new Deputy First Minister, will take on the Finance portfolio, including responsibility for the Scottish Budget
Michael Matheson becomes the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care
Jenny Gilruth joins Cabinet for the first time as Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
Màiri McAllan joins Cabinet for the first time as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition
Neil Gray joins Cabinet for the first time as Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy
Mairi Gougeon remains Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands
Angus Robertson remains Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture
Shirley-Anne Somerville becomes Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
Angela Constance returns to Cabinet as the new Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs
Parliament will be asked to approve the new Ministerial appointments today (Thursday). Junior ministerial appointments will also be announced.
First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “The Cabinet team I have unveiled reflects the priorities that we will pursue as a government – including tackling child poverty, improving public services and building a fairer, greener economy.
“Ahead of my appointment as First Minister, I have committed myself to a radical, ambitious and progressive policy agenda for Scotland – and I know that this team is the right one to deliver it.
“I want to thank those Ministers departing government for their leadership over the last few years, through many storms not of our making – the economic damage caused by Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, austerity and the cost of living crisis. Those Ministers – led so ably by Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney – leave a strong legacy for the new team to build on.
“I have made clear my belief Scotland’s government should look as much as possible like the people we represent. As well as being the first ever First Minister from a minority ethnic background, I am pleased that a record number of women have agreed to serve, as well as a significant blend of younger and more experienced members. That said, every single appointment has been made on merit.
“Every single person in this government is clear that it is for the people of Scotland to determine their constitutional future – no one else – and we will work to ensure that they are given that right. As we make the case for Scottish independence, we will continue to govern well and demonstrate to the people of Scotland the benefits of decisions about their lives being taken here in Scotland.
“Subject to Parliament’s approval, the new Ministerial team is ready to get to work delivering for the people of Scotland.”
One notable absence from the new Yousaf team is Northern and Leith MSP Ben Macpherson, who declined to serve in the new government.
The local MSP explained in a short statement on Twitter yesterday: “After serving in 4 @scotgov Ministerial roles in 5 years, today I’ve respectfully declined a 5th.
“I believe I’ve served well & reliably, & I’m proud of all that I’ve helped to deliver through challenging times. I wish the new FM, DFM & colleagues success.
“It’s been an honour.”
Cabinet of 10 will be supported by 18 Junior Ministers
First Minister Humza Yousaf has completed the appointment of his ministerial team. Consisting of 10 Cabinet Secretaries, including the First Minister, the Scottish Cabinet will be supported by 18 Junior Ministers.
First Minister – Humza Yousaf
Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy – Elena Whitham
Minister for Independence – Jamie Hepburn
Minister for Cabinet and Parliamentary Business – George Adam
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance – Shona Robison
Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance – Tom Arthur
Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning – Joe FitzPatrick
Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care – Michael Matheson
Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health – Jenny Minto
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills – Jenny Gilruth
Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise – Natalie Don
Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans – Graeme Dey
Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition – Màiri McAllan
Minister for Transport – Kevin Stewart
Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy – Neil Gray
Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade – Richard Lochhead
Minister for Energy – Gillian Martin
Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity (who will also work alongside the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition) – Lorna Slater
Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights (who will also work alongside the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice) – Patrick Harvie
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands – Mairi Gougeon
Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture – Angus Robertson
Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development – Christina McKelvie
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice – Shirley-Anne Somerville
Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees – Emma Roddick
Minister for Housing Paul McLennan
Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs – Angela Constance
Minister for Victims and Community Safety – Siobhian Brown
Parliament will be asked to approve the new Ministerial appointments today. A more detailed breakdown of ministerial responsibilities will be confirmed in due course.
“These are the second worst data on record. Too many patients are waiting too long. We know long waits contribute to patient harm. In August over 29,000 patients waited over 12 hours after a decision to admit was made, with some patients waiting up to three days for a bed.
“We think the consequence of this is shown in the ONS data as 500 excess deaths a week. We must not accept these long stays as normal. We need to see leadership and meaningful action that gets to grips with this crisis.
“We urge the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, and incoming Health and Social Care Secretary, Therese Coffey (above), to make tackling the crisis in Emergency Care a priority.
The scale of patient harm occurring is shocking. The Emergency Care system is failing to its core functions; it is vital that we mitigate the impact of this crisis ahead of winter and do all we can to keep patients safe and reduce these dangerous waiting times.
“The Prime Minister and Health Secretary must urgently bolster the social care workforce. Thousands of beds are occupied by patients who are medically fit to be discharged, but the lack of social care service means that getting patients home is a slow and complex process.
“This means that hospitals have difficulty in discharging patients in a timely way, leading to exit block, poor flow throughout the hospital and subsequent problems in Emergency Departments and ambulance waits. The need for investment in social care couldn’t be clearer.
“Staff are exhausted, overwhelmed and in the midst of the worst crisis the NHS has ever faced. Widespread shortfalls of staff across all grades and departments mean health care workers are spread increasingly thinly and more prone to burnout – there are currently around 130,000 vacancies in the NHS almost 10% of its workforce.
“The Prime Minister must deliver the fully funded long-term NHS workforce plan that the government pledged to deliver in 2019. Emergency Care is in crisis and there is a shortfall of 2,000-2,500 Emergency Medicine consultants and widespread shortages of vital nursing staff, trainees, SAS doctors and junior and supporting staff are contributing to the challenges.”
There were 1,304,378 attendances at major Emergency Departments
There were 1,988,779 total attendances at all Emergency Care facilities
28,756 patients were delayed for 12 hours or more from decision to admit to admission
This is the second highest number of 12-hour waits on record, just 561 short of the previous record in July 2022
There have now been 178,770 12-hour waits (from decision to admit to admission) so far this year
Four-hour performance at major Emergency Departments was 58.0%, this is the second worst four-hour performance on record, the lowest was recorded the previous month, July 2022
More than 2 in 5 patients were delayed by four-hours or more
Type 1 admissions stood at 350,618 (a daily average of 11,310)
130,528patients spent more than four hours in an Emergency Department from decision to admit to admission (also referred to as ‘trolley waits’)
Bed occupancy stood at 92.8% (far higher than the recommended 85%)
