Scottish Executive

The government of Scotland for devolved matters. The Executive comprises a First Minister and a team of Scottish ministers, including law officers, supported by civil servants. The ministers are politicians drawn from the Scottish Parliament - from the party or coalition with a majority of seats - to whom they are accountable. The Executive comprised six main functional departments: justice; health; rural affairs; development; education; and enterprise and lifelong learning. The Executive also overseas nine agencies, which include the Scottish Courts, Scottish Prison Service, Historic Scotland, and the National Archives of Scotland.

In November 2001, the Scottish Executive comprised the first minister (Jack McConnell), a deputy first minister who was also minister for justice (Jim Wallace), seven other ministers, eight deputy ministers, and two law officers (the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General).