Minister for Higher and Further Education

Minister for Higher and Further Education
Scottish Gaelic: Ministear airson Foghlam Àrd-ìre agus Adhartach
Incumbent
Graeme Dey
since 29 March 2023
Member of
Reports toScottish Parliament
SeatEdinburgh
AppointerFirst Minister
Inaugural holderMaureen Watt
Minister for Schools and Skills
Formation17 May 2007
Salary£106,185 per annum (2024)[1]
(including £72,196 MSP salary)
Websitewww.gov.scot

The Minister for Higher and Further Education is a Junior ministerial post in the Education Department of the Scottish Government. As a result, the Minister does not attend[2] the Scottish Cabinet. The post was created in May 2007 after the appointment of the Scottish National Party minority administration and the Minister reports to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, who has overall responsibility for the portfolio, and is a member of cabinet. The Minister has specific responsibility for further education and colleges, higher education and universities, science and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics, student funding, youth work, and widening access to education.[3]

The post is one of two reporting to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, alongside the Minister for Children and Young People.

  1. ^ "MSP salaries". parliament.scot. The Scottish Parliament. 10 May 2024.
  2. ^ Scotland Act (1998), Only those appointed under Section 47 of the Scotland Act "attend" Cabinet. Junior ministers are appointed under Section 49 and may be "present".
  3. ^ "Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science". Scottish Government. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.