Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning

This article is part of a series within the Politics of the United Kingdom on the
Politics of Scotland
The Crown The Monarch Charles III Heir apparent William, Duke of Rothesay Prerogative Royal family Succession Privy Council Union of the Crowns Balmoral Castle Holyrood Palace Scottish republicanism
Executive Scottish Government Yousaf government First Minister The Rt Hon Humza Yousaf MSP Deputy First Minister Shona Robison MSP Cabinet Secretaries Junior Ministers Directorates Scottish budget Taxation Executive agencies Public bodies Bute House St Andrew's House
Legislature Scottish Parliament Sixth session Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone MSP Primary legislation Statutory instrument Committees First Minister's Questions Scotland Act 1998 (2012 Act · 2016 Act) EU Continuity Act 2020
Law and justice Justice Secretary Keith Brown MSP Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC Lord President The Rt Hon Lord Carloway KC PC Scots law Udal law Courts Judiciary Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Police Scotland Scottish Prison Service Advocate General Solicitor General
Elections and referendums Scottish Parliament elections 1999 · 2003 · 2007 · 2011 · 2016 · 2021 · Next United Kingdom Parliament elections 1801 co-option 1802 1806 1807 1812 1818 1820 1826 1830 1831 1832 1835 1837 1841 1847 1852 1857 1859 1865 1868 1874 1880 1885 1886 1892 1895 1900 1906 1910 (Jan) 1910 (Dec) 1918 1922 1923 1924 1929 1931 1935 1945 1950 1951 1955 1959 1964 1966 1970 1974 (Feb) 1974 (Oct) 1979 1983 1987 1992 1997 2001 2005 2010 2015 2017 2019 European Parliament elections 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014 2019 Local elections 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1977 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1995 1999 2003 2007 2012 2017 2022 Referendums 1975 1979 1994 1997 2005 2011 2014 2016 Scottish Parliament constituencies Scottish Parliament electoral regions Scottish Westminster constituencies Proposed second independence referendum Electoral system Political parties
Scotland and the United Kingdom United Kingdom Government Sunak ministry Prime Minister The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP Secretary of State for Scotland The Rt Hon Alister Jack MP Scottish devolution Treaty of Union House of Commons House of Lords Scotland Office Scottish Affairs Committee Scottish Grand Committee Interministerial Standing Committee Barnett formula Reserved matters Sewel motion
Administration Council areas History Sheriffdoms Community councils Lieutenancy areas Convention of Scottish Local Authorities
Category · Scotland portal Other countries
v t e

The Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning (Scottish Gaelic: Ministear airson Cumhachd Riaghaltas Ionadail agus Dealbhaidh) is a junior ministerial post in the Scottish Government. As a result, the Minister does not attend the Scottish Cabinet. The minister supports the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, who has overall responsible for the portfolio.

The Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning is Joe FitzPatrick MSP, who was appointed on 29 March 2023.

Overview

The Minister has responsibility for:

• Housing
• Social security
• Local government
• Planning and building standards
• Business Improvement Districts
• Community planning
• Homelessness
• Regeneration
• Fuel poverty

History

In 2011, the position of Minister for Local Government and Planning was created; the portfolio changed in November 2014 following a reshuffle by Nicola Sturgeon when she became First Minister of Scotland. The post was rebranded at that point to Minister for Local Government and Community Empowerment.

In September 2012, the junior post of Minister for Housing and Welfare was announced, with a portfolio intended to reflect the important role of housing in aiding economic recovery and the challenges that face those in poverty. In May 2016, Nicola Sturgeon reshuffled junior ministers and the post joined local government and housing in a new Minister for Local Government and Housing role. Planning was added to the title in June 2018. The title was changed in May 2021 to Minister for Social Security and Local Government at the start of the third Sturgeon government, with the post also taking responsibility for social security, which between 2018 and 2021 was the responsibility of a separate cabinet-level post, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People. In March 2023, the post became Minister for Local Government Empowering and Planning under the Yousaf government.

List of office holders

Minister for Local Government and Planning
Name		Portrait	Entered Office	Left Office	Party	First Minister
	Aileen Campbell		25 May 2011	5 December 2011	Scottish National Party	Alex Salmond
	Derek Mackay		6 December 2011	21 November 2014	Scottish National Party	Alex Salmond
Minister for Local Government and Community Empowerment
	Marco Biagi		21 November 2014	18 May 2016	Scottish National Party	Nicola Sturgeon
Minister for Local Government and Housing
	Kevin Stewart		18 May 2016	27 June 2018	Scottish National Party	Nicola Sturgeon
Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
	Kevin Stewart		27 June 2018	20 May 2021	Scottish National Party	Nicola Sturgeon
Minister for Social Security and Local Government
	Ben Macpherson		20 May 2021	29 March 2023	Scottish National Party	Nicola Sturgeon
Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning
	Joe FitzPatrick		29 March 2023	Incumbent	Scottish National Party	Humza Yousaf

External links

• The Scottish Cabinet on Scottish Government website
• Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning on Scottish Government website