New Face for Environment and Climate Change in Scotland

In Scotland, Stewart Stevenson has stepped down from his ministerial role with Paul Wheelhouse stepping into his shoes as Minister for the Environment and Climate Change with a portfolio that forestry.

Three posts were safe however with Richard Lochhead remaining Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, John Swinney still Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth and Fergus Ewing continuing as Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism.

The new Minister for the Environment and Climate Change Paul Wheelhouse is the SNP member for the South of Scotland and has served on the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee, and the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee. Between May 2011 and Feb 2012, he served as Parliamentary Liaison Officer for the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead MSP, and his predecessor the then Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Stewart Stevenson MSP.

Mr Wheelhouse is a professional economist and, since 1992, has specialised in higher and further education markets, policy evaluation and economic appraisal and impact assessment of capital projects. He was born in Belfast in 1970, and raised in Edinburgh. He gained an honours degree in Economics from the University of Aberdeen and an MBA from University of Edinburgh. He has lived in Berwickshire since 2000, and has served as a community councillor since 2001. He is a member of Shelter, SSPCA and RSPB!

Mr Wheelhouse has been a member of Cross Party Groups on Epilepsy, Rural Policy, Armed Forces Veterans, Funerals & Bereavement, Boating & Marine Tourism and Deputy Convenor of the CPG on Sport.

The Institute of Chartered Foresters welcomes Mr Wheelhouse to his new post.