Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning

The Minister has responsibility for:^[3]

• local government
• planning and National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4)
• town centre regeneration including business improvement districts
• regeneration policy and the place-based investment programme
• retail policy, recovery and strategy

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.^[2] In March 2023, the post became Minister for Local Government Empowering and Planning under the Yousaf government.

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