Hansard

I am pleased to seek the Parliament’s approval of the appointment of Angela Constance and Shona Robison as cabinet ministers, through this motion in my name.

I stress to Parliament that these proposed appointments are based on merit and responsibilities. The appointment of a new cabinet secretary for training, youth and female employment underlines the priority that we attach to increasing the number of women participating in the labour market, and to creating opportunities for our young people. The appointment of a cabinet secretary for the Commonwealth games, sport, equalities and pensioners’ rights will guarantee a specific Cabinet voice for Scotland’s pensioners for the first time, and it underlines this Government’s absolute and unwavering commitment to equality, by ensuring that the minister with responsibility for that issue has a place in the Cabinet.

Angela Constance and Shona Robison are being proposed for appointment because of their record in Government. Shona Robison has been hugely successful as Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport. The games are well on course to be the greatest sporting and cultural celebration that Scotland has ever seen. Angela Constance, as Europe’s only Minister for Youth Employment, has overseen progress on tackling youth employment. This Government is delivering 25,000 modern apprenticeships each year and will increase that number progressively to 30,000 by 2020. Our opportunities for all initiative guarantees work or training for every 16 to 19-year-old. Our youth unemployment figures are the eighth lowest in the European Union. However, there is much more still to be done.

On women’s employment, we have had some extremely encouraging figures. This month has seen the highest employment figures in Scotland on record—the highest in history. Significantly, within those figures, the rising aspect over the past year has been the growth in women’s employment—the majority of it in full-time positions. However, further aspects and initiatives need to be addressed in that area, too. It is 44 years since the passage of the Equal Pay Act 1970, yet there is still much to be done in that area.

There is a further significant consequence of the appointments. The Scottish Government has made it clear that, in an independent Scotland, we will consult on a target for women to make up at least 40 per cent of the membership of all boards, public and private. Within the next few weeks, we will begin a consultation to determine whether there is support for ensuring that 40 per cent of the make-up of devolved public boards is female. We believe that a merit-based approach is the route by which boards can achieve that. The appointments that I am proposing today will mean that Scotland’s board—the Cabinet—has 40 per cent female representation for the first time. For public appointments overall, the level of female appointments is 39 per cent and rising. The Government is, therefore, practising what we propose that others implement.

The appointments place two outstanding ministers in the Scottish Parliament in the Scottish Cabinet. They underline our commitment to equality, to pensioners and to helping the young people of Scotland into the workplace. They demonstrate that equality and inclusion will be at the heart of everything that the Government does.

I commend to the Parliament the appointment of these two excellent ministers.

I move,

That the Parliament agrees that Angela Constance and Shona Robison be appointed as Scottish Ministers.

15:05