Questions over agriculture minister - and department

Published on Wednesday 16 May 2007 00:33

ALEX Salmond will shortly be appointed as First Minister, but it remains unclear which of his SNP colleagues will be rewarded with ministerial responsibilities. However, speculation is mounting as to the appointment of the new minister for rural affairs.

Richard Lochhead, long perceived as a Salmond loyalist, is in pole position having been spokesperson for the duration of the last parliament, but Fergus Ewing could well be a surprise choice, given his rural background and interest in farming.

However, sources within both Holyrood and the Scottish Executive have suggested to The Scotsman that there could well be a major restructuring of several departments. Since 1999 the Scottish Executive's Environment and Rural Affairs Department has enjoyed a wide remit, with Ross Finnie as lead minister. But it is a distinct possibility that the environment brief will be transferred to an enhanced transport department.

In that event the new rural affairs department would only have responsibilities for agriculture, countryside issues and fishing. This would be much in line with the pre-devolution Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland. That arrangement, in the view of most farmers, worked tolerably well.

However, no matter if there is a change of structure or not, the new minister will find his desk in Pentland House piled high with papers awaiting some urgent deliberation and not a few important decisions.