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The Scotland Office (Oifis na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is a department of the United Kingdom government within the Ministry of Justice and led by the Secretary of State for Scotland. The office is responsible for the representation of Scotland in HM Government, facilitating the smooth operation of devolution, liaising between the government and the devolved Government in Edinburgh and the administering of certain reserved matters of government in relation to Scotland.
Until the advent of the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government, the precursor to the Scotland Office, the Scottish Office, was a major UK government department dealing with most aspects of the domestic governance of Scotland, a position known as "administrative devolution". Since devolution its powers have been limited to those relating to reserved matters that are not dealt with by other departments of the UK Government, and it, along with the Wales Office, was then absorbed into the Ministry of Justice. The Secretary of State for Scotland also holds certain powers of oversight over the operation of the Scottish Parliament under the Scotland Act 1998.
The office of Secretary of State for Scotland continues in existence, though has recently often been held along with another Secretaryship of State by a member of the Cabinet, though this is not currently the case.
- Secretary of State for Scotland - The Rt Hon. Jim Murphy, MP
- Parliamentary Under Secretary - Ann McKechin MP
- Advocate General and House of Lords spokesperson - The Rt Hon. The Lord Davidson of Glen Clova, QC
Location
The department is based at Dover House, in London's Whitehall, and employs around 40 permanent staff. Dover House also serves as a base for staff of the Scottish Government in London.
There is also an office of the department located in Melville Crescent, Edinburgh.
The Advocate General, as a Law Officer, shares the same offices in London and Edinburgh.
References
The Scottish Secretaries, David Torrance. (Birlinn 2006)
External links
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