First Minister announces cabinet positions

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has this week announced her new cabinet. There are significant changes for the housing sector as responsibility is elevated to a cabinet position, with no junior housing ministerial post below.

Shona Robison is appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, with responsibility for reducing child poverty as well as working to deliver the 2040 100,000 affordable homes target. Ms Robison’s role is supported by two junior ministers: Minister for Equalities and Older People Christina McKelvie and Minister for Social Security and Local Government Ben MacPherson.

Former Housing Minister Kevin Stewart has taken up a new role as Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care and will work with Humza Yousaf who has become Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and has responsibility for the establishment of the National Care Service.

Michael Matheson has taken on a new role as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport. This portfolio brings together cross-government responsibility for co-ordination of net-zero policy, encompassing transport, environmental protection, energy and COP26 delivery. He is supported by Mairi McAllan who has been appointed Minister for Environment, Biodiversity and Land Reform.

Other key appointments include John Swinney as Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery, Kate Forbes as Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy and Mairi Gougeon as Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands.

Sally Thomas, SFHA Chief Executive, said: “We are pleased to see the importance the new Scottish Government is placing on housing, with this brief elevated to cabinet secretary level and specifically tasked with taking forward the Housing to 2040 commitment of delivering 100,000 affordable homes by 2032. It is vital that we now build on the progress made during the last parliament and continue to tackle housing need by delivering the homes Scotland requires.

“SFHA and our members look forward to working with Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government Shona Robison and Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport Michael Matheson to deliver safe, warm, energy efficient good quality affordable homes that help contribute to climate change targets during this parliament.”

Sally Thomas concluded: “On behalf of SFHA and our members, I would also like to thank Kevin Stewart for working with us in his role of Housing Minister during the last parliament. Mr Stewart built a very constructive working relationship with our sector and generously gave his time to our events and meetings.

"We wish him all the very best in his new role and look forward to working with him as we continue to bring housing and social care closer together.”