Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment

The Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment is a Junior ministerial post in the Scottish Government. As a result, the Minister does not attend the Scottish Cabinet.[1] The post was created in June 2018: the Minister supports the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, both of whom are full members of the cabinet.[2]

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The Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment has specific responsibility for:[2]

• Animal health & welfare
• Marine planning
• National Parks and natural heritage
• Physical and marine environment
• Sustainable development
• Plant Health (including forestry disease issues)
• Genetic Modification issues
• Climate Change implications related to Agriculture