Volume 9: Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Part 2: Scotland
8. Statutory framework and responsibilities
The Secretary of State for Scotland

8.1 The Secretary of State for Scotland had joint responsibility with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in Whitehall for animal health in Scotland. Until 1990, the Secretary of State for Scotland exercised separate responsibilities for food safety in Scotland. Under the Food Safety Act 1990, however, he had joint responsibility with the Secretary of State for Health. He was advised by an Assistant Chief Veterinary Officer of the State Veterinary Service, and by the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland. ¹ While the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) and the Department of Health (DH) in Whitehall took the lead on matters affecting the UK as a whole, the Secretary of State for Scotland was consulted on policy issues and, as a member of the Cabinet, could raise issues there. Mr (later Sir) Michael Forsyth described his role as Secretary of State as 'Scotland's man in the Cabinet, not the Cabinet's man in Scotland'. ²

8.2 During the period covered by the Report, successive Secretaries of State held office: Mr Malcolm Rifkind up to 1990, Mr Ian Lang up to 1995, and Mr Michael Forsyth thereafter. Lord Sanderson, as Minister of State with responsibility for Agriculture between 1987 and 1990, played a direct role in the initial action taken on BSE.