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"Stronger voice for women, pensioners and young people"

First Minister announces Cabinet appointments.

Two new members have been appointed to the Scottish Cabinet, announced the First Minister recently.

Focusing on equalities and opportunities, Shona Robison will join Cabinet in the new post of Cabinet Secretary for the Commonwealth Games, Sport, Equalities and Pensioners’ Rights, creating a specific Cabinet voice for Scotland’s pensioners for the first time.

Angela Constance will take the new post of Cabinet Secretary for Training, Youth & Female Employment, extending her current responsibilities for Youth Employment to include Female Employment, employment training and the implementation of the Wood Commission.

Making the appointments First Minister Alex Salmond said:

"In an independent Scotland we will want our companies to aspire to at least 40 per cent female participation on their boards.

"And we will have the power to enforce the Equal Pay Act.

"This issue of equality, of equal opportunities, is of the highest importance.

"Shona Robison is the minister in charge of equality in the Scottish Government so today I have asked Shona to join the Scottish Cabinet as a full member and to also take on a specific brief on pensioners’ rights.

"The Scotland we are seeking to build will be an equal Scotland.

"A Scotland where everyone has the opportunity to make the most of their talents.

"Youth unemployment is the single biggest challenge we face in meeting that goal.

"The Scottish Government is working hard to tackle this blight of joblessness among the young.

"25,000 Modern Apprenticeships, working with the voluntary sector, and the guarantee of work, a training place or a university or college place for every 16-19 year old.

"Sir Ian Wood’s Commission is producing exciting proposals which will align our education and training systems ever closer to the work place. This work has been overseen by Angela Constance as the only Minister for Youth Employment in Europe.

"Today I have also asked Angela to become a full member of the Scottish Cabinet and to take full policy responsibility for work training and the implementation of the WoodCommission.

"These appointments underline our commitment to equality, to pensioners and to helping the young people of Scotland into the workplace.

"And with these two outstanding ministers in the Scottish Cabinet, we practice what we preach.

"The Cabinet is our board as a country, and subject to a parliamentary approval, women will soon make up 40 per cent of the members of the Scottish Cabinet."

Notes To Editors

Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games, Sport, Equalities and Pensioners’ Rights

Major Responsibilities:

Sport including the Commonwealth Games,

Equalities including disabilities

Cross government co-ordination of Pensioners’ Rights, including pensioners’ welfare.

Cabinet Secretary for Training, Youth & Female Employment

Major Responsibilities:

Youth Employment

Female Employment

Employment training including implementation of the Wood Commission and Skills Development Scotland.

Channel website: http://www.gov.scot/

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