Paul Wheelhouse has been named as Scotland’s new minister for business, innovation and energy.
The MSP from the south of Scotland (pictured) has previously spent time as minister for the environment and climate change brief before moving to community safety and legal affairs.
Wheelhouse will work under Keith Brown, who will have cabinet level responsibility for the overall energy brief as Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work.
The portfolio includes “energy and energy consents” as well as “renewable energy industries”.
Ewing, who had been energy minister since 2011, was promoted to cabinet level as Secretary of the Rural Economy and Connectivity.
The promotion is part of a reshuffle by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon that also includes a new cabinet-level Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, to be filled by Roseanna Cunningham.
The latter position “underlines the Scottish government’s ambitious plans to further reduce carbon emissions” among other items, said Holyrood.
Sturgeon said: “The cabinet I have announced today will ensure our priorities of education and the economy are given fresh impetus; our public services are reformed and improved and we are able to respond to challenges such as climate change in the years to come.”
Image: Scottish Government
