Part of Finance and Local Government – in the Scottish Parliament at on 3 September 2025.
Ivan McKee
Scottish National Party
As I indicated, a whole range of programmes are in place. As was outlined in the programme for government, we have introduced specialist employability support across Scotland to enhance services for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions. Alongside that, we have improved the healthy working lives service and working health services Scotland to ensure that support is available for employees and employers who are managing health challenges in the workforce. Devolved employability services, which are backed by £90 million in 2025-26, play a pivotal role in supporting people towards and into sustainable fair work.
It is worth pointing out that the Deputy First Minister is working with Public Health Scotland and a range of private sector employers on pilot programmes to help to move those individuals back into work.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
