Scotland Office

The Scotland Office (Oifis na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is a department of the United Kingdom government, responsible for reserved Scottish affairs. Until the advent of devolution and the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Executive it was (under the title "The Scottish Office") a major department led by the Secretary of State for Scotland. Since devolution its powers have been limited to reserved powers, and it is now a branch of the Department for Constitutional Affairs, along with the Wales Office and the former Lord Chancellor's Department.

Related Topics:
Scottish Gaelic - United Kingdom - Scottish - Devolution - Scottish Parliament - Scottish Executive - Secretary of State for Scotland - Reserved powers - Department for Constitutional Affairs - Wales Office - Lord Chancellor's Department

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There is no longer a separate office of Secretary of State for Scotland, this now being a separate function held by another member of the Cabinet.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Secretary of State for Scotland - The Rt Hon. Alistair Darling MP (who is also the Secretary of State for Transport)
• Parliamentary Under Secretary of State - David Cairns MP
• Advocate General - Lynda Clark
• House of Lords spokesperson - The Rt Hon. The Lord Evans of Temple Guiting

The department is based at Dover House, in London's Whitehall, and employs around 40 permanent staff, as well as serving as a base for staff of the Scottish Executive in London. The Advocate General, as a Law Officer, also has an office in Edinburgh.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~