Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands
Mairi Gougeon was reappointed Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands in May 2024.
Responsibilities
The Cabinet Secretary is responsible for:
- cross-government co-ordination on islands, including island connectivity
- land reform and land use
- Agriculture Bill
- fisheries
- aquaculture
- marine operations, science and compliance
- forestry and woodlands, including Forestry and Land Scotland and Scottish Forestry
- food and drink
- Scottish Land Commission
- Crown Estate Scotland
- Royal Botanic Gardens
- national parks and natural heritage
Supporting Ministers
- Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity (reporting jointly to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport)
Biography
Mairi was elected as MSP for Angus North and Mearns in May 2016.
Mairi joined the government in 2018 and became Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs in 2021. Previous roles have included Minister for Public Health and Sport, and Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment.
Before joining the government, Mairi was a councillor for Brechin and Edzell. She was convenor of the infrastructure services committee and chaired the East of Scotland European Consortium. Mairi represented COSLA at the Council of European Municipalities and Regions.
She is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen. She was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands in March 2023.
- Read more about Mairi Gougeon on the Scottish Parliament website.
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