List of ministers' interests

Interests by minister

First Minister John Swinney MSP

List of interests will be added in due course.

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, Kate Forbes MSP

7. Any other relevant interests

The Deputy First Minister:

• is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales
• attends a local congregation of the Free Church of Scotland
• has responsibility for Highlands and Islands Enterprise in her Ministerial role which will be involved with strategic assets in her constituency

8. Interests of spouse, partner or close family member

• a close family member works as a chimney sweep covering a very broad range of housing tenures, including housing associations homes
• two close family members of the Deputy First Minister’s are joint shareholders in a company which runs a Bed & Breakfast. The Deputy First Minister does not participate in the business

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government Shona Robison MSP

7. Any other relevant interests

• has recused herself from any government decisions regarding the Dundee (Airport) to London PSO route given her constituency interests. The Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance has assumed Ministerial responsibility for such decisions

Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs Angela Constance MSP

6. Charities

• The Cabinet Secretary is Honorary President of the West Lothian Family History Society.

7. Any Other Relevant Interests

• HM Prison Addiewell is in the Cabinet Secretary’s Parliamentary Constituency.

8. Interests of Spouse, Partner or Close Family Member

• The Cabinet Secretary’s husband has a registered company which owns property, one of which the Cabinet Secretary uses periodically at weekends or during recess.

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Jenny Gilruth MSP

1. Financial Interests

• The Cabinet Secretary has a teacher’s pension and has therefore recused herself from Ministerial decision making on changes to the employee contribution rate structure in the Scottish Teachers’ Pension Scheme to avoid any perception of a conflict of interest, even though her own pension will not be affected by this decision. This decision will be taken by Mr Arthur, the Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance

7. Any Other Relevant Interests

• The Cabinet Secretary is a registered teacher with the General Teaching Council for Scotland although does not currently wish to teach. Local arrangements have been put in place so that papers on GTCS registration will be sent to another Minister should any matters arise.

8. Interests of Spouse, Partner or Close Family Member

• The Cabinet Secretary’s wife is a member of the Oversight Board of “The Promise”. Policy responsibility for The Promise sits primarily with the Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise, Ms Don, who in turn reports directly to the First Minister. Oversight, and any Cabinet Secretary-level sign-off required in relation to funding, will be provided by the Deputy First Minister. 
• The Cabinet Secretary’s wife is a Professor at the University of Glasgow and Associate Director at the Centre for Public Policy there.
• The Cabinet Secretary’s wife is a member of the Economic and Social Research Council’s strategic advisory network, which provides advice on what research should be funded in UK Higher Education institutions.
• A close family member of the Cabinet Secretary is a teacher. 

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Mairi Gougeon MSP

6. Charities

• The Cabinet Secretary is a trustee of Brechin Buccaneers.

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray MSP

8. Interests of Spouse, Partner or Close Family Member

• Declaration of interests being reviewed following reshuffle.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop MSP

The Cabinet Secretary has campaigned in support of:

• proposed works to link the M8 with Falkirk and Grangemouth A801 (Avon Gorge) and has recused herself from Government decisions on this issue
• the Newton Village on long-standing speed, volume and type of traffic using the village rate than the M9 route to and from the Queensferry Crossing and has recused herself from Government decisions on this issue
• park and ride at the new junction 4A on the M8 at the Heartlands to reduce car commuting and transfer to bus into cities and has recused herself from Government decisions on this issue
• park and ride at new junction in Winchburgh to reduce car commuting and transfer to bus into cities and has recused herself from Government decisions on this issue

She has also been:

• a long standing campaigner in support of the train station planned for Winchburgh and has recused herself from government decisions on this issue
• active in successfully representing constituency concerns in the previous air space expansion plans for Edinburgh Airport and is currently representing constituents concerns about the airport's latest, second attempt to expand its airspace - she has recused herself from government decisions on this and related issues

The Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity Jim Fairlie MSP will take decisions on these issues.

Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy Mairi McAllan MSP

6. Charities

• The Cabinet Secretary is a member of the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

8. Interests of Spouse, Partner or Close Family Member

• The Cabinet Secretary’s husband is a farmer. The farm has from time to time been approached in respect of marginal aspects of surrounding local renewable energy projects. The Cabinet Secretary has no role in the partnership nor in the day-to-day running of the farm.

9. Relationships with the Government of Close Acquaintances or Advisers

• A close family member is a senior Scottish Government Official currently holding post of Director of Covid Recovery and Public Service Reform. There is no direct overlap between the responsibilities of the Cabinet Secretary and her close family member. 

Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Rt Hon Angus Robertson MSP

2. Directorships and Shareholdings

• The Cabinet Secretary is Managing Director of both ASCR Ltd and Progress Scotland Ltd and is sole shareholder in both companies.

7. Any Other Relevant Interests

• The Cabinet Secretary recognises that within the Culture Portfolio there is a heavy concentration of cultural venues, organisations and festivals in the Edinburgh Central constituency.
• The Cabinet Secretary engages with the Edinburgh Festivals, for example attending performances, and as regards the work they do for international cultural links, but has recused himself on decisions on support for the Edinburgh Festivals including funding for EXPO and PLACE.
• The Cabinet Secretary recused himself from decisions about the Centre for Moving Image (CMI) and the future of the Filmhouse once it became clear that the CMI was entering into administration given his constituency interests.
• The Cabinet Secretary recused himself from decision making on further funding support for the redevelopment of the King’s Theatre given his constituency interests.
• The Cabinet Secretary recused himself from decisions on the Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh.
• The Cabinet Secretary meets with the national collections (National Galleries, National Library, National Museums) which have their main operations in Edinburgh Central. This is in the context of their broader contribution to cultural policy. He has recused himself from day to day decisions about the collections, on for example funding and Board appointments.
• The Cabinet Secretary has recused himself from decisions in relation to Screen Machine.
• The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic will take decisions on the portfolio matters that the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture has recused himself from, with the exception of Screen Machine, where she also has a conflict. On this matter, decisions will be taken by the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Finance.

8. Interests of Spouse, Partner or Close Family Member

• The Cabinet Secretary’s wife is the Managing Director of a PR company Spey which has a significant number of clients in the food and drink sector. The Cabinet Secretary recused himself from Ministerial decision making in relation to his portfolio’s policy interests in the alcohol industry (in light of the Scottish Government’s consultation on alcohol advertising and promotion) given his wife’s public relations company represents alcohol brands. 
• The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic will take decisions on this issue.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP

8. Interests of Spouse, Partner or Close Family Member

• The Cabinet Secretary’s spouse works for Citizens Advice Scotland and is a board member for MND Scotland.
• The Cabinet Secretary has recused herself from financial decisions which directly benefit Citizens Advice Scotland. The Minister for Housing, Mr McLennan, has portfolio responsibility for matters relating to welfare and debt advice services. Oversight, and any Cabinet Secretary-level sign-off required in relation to funding, will be provided by the Deputy First Minister. 

Minister for Employment and Investment Tom Arthur MSP

2. Directorships and Shareholdings

• The Minister owns a £1 share in Barrhead Housing Association, who are involved in delivering participatory budgeting in East Renfrewshire.

6. Charities

• The Minister is a member of the RSPB.

7. Any Other Relevant Interests

• The Minister owns a £1 share in Barrhead Housing Association, who are involved in delivering participatory budgeting in East Renfrewshire.

8. Interests of Spouse, Partner or Close Family Member

• Extended family members own a residential property and associated land on the Island of South Uist. The property is primarily a holiday let however is also occasionally used as a private residence to which the Minister and his wife have use. The property and land are situated within a designated National Scenic Area.

Minister for Victims and Community Safety Siobhian Brown MSP

The Minister confirmed that they had no relevant interests to declare.

Minister for Higher and Further Education, and Minister for Veterans Graeme Dey MSP

8. Interests of Spouse, Partner or Close Family Member

• Mr Dey’s wife works in the college sector.
• A close family member is a serving Firefighter.
• A close family member is an actress who on occasion works for the Scottish Government funded National Theatre of Scotland and teaches part-time at the Royal Conservatoire Of Scotland.

Minister for Children, Young People and the Promise Natalie Don MSP

7. Any Other Relevant Interests

• The Minister was a local authority councillor for Renfrewshire Council from 2017 to 2022
• The Minister’s children attend a private nursery

Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity Jim Fairlie MSP

Relevant declarations of interests to be confirmed.

Minister for Parliamentary Business Jamie Hepburn MSP

8. Interests of Spouse, Partner or Close Family Member

• The Minister’s wife works for the Scottish National Party.

Minister for Business, Richard Lochhead MSP

6. Charities

• The Minister is Honorary President of Tomintoul and Glenlivet Bowling Club.

Minister for Energy, Gillian Martin MSP

3. Heritable Property

• The Minister has ownership of a one bedroom holiday cottage in Moray coast which is for family use only.

Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy Christina McKelvie MSP

9. Relationships with the Government of Close Acquaintances or Advisers

• The Minister’s partner is Keith Brown MSP.

Minister for Housing Paul McLennan MSP

3. Heritable Property

• The Minister has a joint mortgage over a property in Dunbar which is let out to in laws.

8. Interests of Spouse, Partner or Close Family Member

• The Minister’s partner works for Standard Life as Head of Relationship Management.
• A close family member works for Standard Life as a Portfolio Analyst.

Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health Jenni Minto MSP

6. Charities

• The Minister is a trustee of the Museum of Islay Life.

9. Relationships with the Government of Close Acquaintances or Advisers

• An extended family member is a civil servant working in the Scottish Government.
• An extended family member works in the Scottish Government Legal Directorate.
• An extended family member works for a Health Board.

Minister for Equalities Kaukab Stewart MSP

Relevant declarations of interests to be confirmed.

Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport Maree Todd MSP

6. Charities

• The Minister is a Patron of the John O’Groat Trail.
• The Minister is Vice President of Friends of the Far North Line.

7. Any Other Relevant Interests

• The Minister is a Registered member of the General Pharmaceutical Council.

8. Interests of Spouse, Partner or Close Family Member

• The Minister’s husband is a Trustee at Tiny Changes; a Non-Executive Director at New Start Scotland; a Non-Executive Director at Community Land Scotland Limited; a Non Executive Director at Aban Outdoor Limited; and he volunteers at Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland.

9. Relationships with the Government of Close Acquaintances or Advisers

• A close family friend is Head of Innovation at Albyn Housing Society.

Minister for Public Finance Ivan McKee MSP

List of interests will be added in due course.

Lord Advocate Rt Hon Dorothy Bain KC

1. Financial Interests

• The Lord Advocate’s outstanding income as an advocate has been declared in the Scottish Parliament’s register of interests.

7. Any Other Relevant Interests

• The Lord Advocate is a Member of Faculty of Advocates.

8. Interests of Spouse, Partner or Close Family Member

• The Lord Advocate’s spouse is a Senator of the College of Justice. He is no longer involved in any criminal proceedings to avoid the risk of any perception of a conflict of interest.

Solicitor General Ruth Charteris KC

5. Public Appointments

• The Solicitor General was Chair of the Fitness to Practise Panel of the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) (now resigned).

6. Charities

• The Solicitor General is a member of Dowanvale Free Church of Scotland.
• The Solicitor General is a member of the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship.

7. Any Other Relevant Interests

• The Solicitor General is a former member of the Scottish Swimming Complaints Panel.