Tom Arthur MSP is to take over from Maree Todd MSP as the new Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, following a ministerial shake up.

Former Minister for Employment and Investment Mr Arthur moves into the health and social care team the same week the long-awaited Care Reform Bill passed unanimously by Holyrood – legislation Ms Todd has led since 2023.

In his new role, Mr Arthur will be responsible for the following:

• social care and integration
• National Care Service
• mental health wellbeing
• child and adolescent mental health
• suicide prevention
• dementia
• augmentative and alternative communication
• Mental Welfare Commission
• survivors of childhood abuse
• forensic mental health services and reform
• Care Inspectorate
• self-directed support
• adult support and protection
• care, support and rights
• social service workforce
• delivering ‘Anne’s Law’
• Independent Living Fund
• social prescribing

Meanwhile, Maree Todd MSP has been appointed as the minister responsible for drugs and alcohol policy following the death of Christina McKelvie MSP.

She will continue to oversee the sport portfolio from her previous role, and her specific responsibilities now also include:

• tackling and reducing the harm of problem substance use
• supporting the rehabilitation and recovery of those living with drug or alcohol dependency
• reducing drug related deaths
• alcohol treatment
• reducing drinking at hazardous and harmful levels
• alcohol harm prevention, harm reduction and recovery

Health and Social Care Secretary Neil Gray and Minister for Public Health Jenni Minto remain in their current jobs, while Natalie Don will continue in her role as Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise.

The new ministerial appointments are part of a small-scale reshuffle following Ms McKelvie’s death, and to bring Màiri McAllan back into the Cabinet after maternity leave in the newly created role of Cabinet Secretary for Housing.

Announcing the appointments, First Minister John Swinney said the government will now ‘redouble’ its efforts to prevent harm and death from drug and alcohol dependency.

Tom Arthur was born in Paisley in 1985 and, after a career as a musician, was first elected to the Scottish Parliament for the seat of Renfrewshire South at the 2016 election.

He joined the Scottish government as Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth in May 2021 then went on to be Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance in March 2023.

Read more: Holyrood passes Care Reform Bill; Scotland needs more Carer Positive employers; Fixing social care funding must be council “priority”; Care worker visa changes ‘inhumane’ and risks services;  Scotland's carers report worsening health

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