Scottish government minister post
Minister for Gaelic is a junior minister post in the Scottish Government. Gaelic now lies in the responsibility of the Scottish Government, having been in control of the Scottish Office prior to 1999.
Ministers of Gaelic also have had another portfolio, whilst being Minister of Gaelic.
The post was discontinued under the second Sturgeon government, having come under the remit of the Education Secretary. This has been a cause of controversy amongst Gaelic speaking groups and communities.
The post then made a return under the Swinney government with Deputy First Minister of Scotland Kate Forbes assuming responsibility for Gaelic in her secondary role as Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic.
Ministers
Minister for Gaelic
|
|
Name
|
Entered Office
|
Left Office
|
Party
|
Shared Portfolio
|
|
|
1.
|
Brian Wilson
|
May 1997
|
July 1998
|
Labour Party
|
Minister of State for Education and Industry (Scottish Office)
|
|
|
2.
|
Calum MacDonald
|
July, 1998
|
July 1999
|
Labour Party
|
Minister for Housing, Planning and European Affairs (Scottish Office)
|
|
|
3.
|
Alasdair Morrison
|
July, 1999
|
November 2001
|
Labour Party
|
Deputy Minister for Enterprise & Lifelong Learning
|
|
|
4.
|
Mike Watson
|
November 2001
|
20 May 2003
|
Labour Party
|
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport
|
|
|
5.
|
Peter Peacock
|
20 May 2003
|
November, 2006
|
Labour Party
|
Minister for Education and Young People
|
|
|
6.
|
Patricia Ferguson
|
November, 2006
|
3 May 2007
|
Labour Party
|
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport
|
|
|
7.
|
Linda Fabiani
|
3 May 2007
|
10 February 2009
|
Scottish National Party
|
Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture
|
|
|
8.
|
Michael Russell
|
10 February 2009
|
1 December 2009
|
Scottish National Party
|
Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture
|
|
|
9.
|
Fiona Hyslop
|
1 December 2009
|
7 December 2011
|
Scottish National Party
|
Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture
|
|
|
10.
|
Alasdair Allan
|
7 December 2011
|
18 May 2016
|
Scottish National Party
|
Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland's Languages
|
|
|
11.
|
Kate Forbes
|
8 May 2024
|
Incumbent
|
Scottish National Party
|
Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic[1]
|
References
