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First minister Alex Salmond unveils enlarged cabinet First minister Alex Salmond unveils enlarged cabinet
(40 minutes later)
First Minister Alex Salmond has announced a new, larger Scottish cabinet, in the wake of the SNP's landslide election victory.First Minister Alex Salmond has announced a new, larger Scottish cabinet, in the wake of the SNP's landslide election victory.
There are now a total of nine senior ministers, compared to six in the previous cabinet, including Mr Salmond. All the members of the last cabinet have kept their jobs, while the promotion of three junior ministers brings its size to nine members.
Several junior ministers - Fiona Hyslop, Alex Neil and Bruce Crawford - were promoted to the cabinet. Mr Salmond said his "strengthened" team would deliver on the priorities of the people of Scotland.
Meanwhile, QC Frank Mulholland has been appointed as the new lord advocate, to head up the prosecution service. Frank Mulholland was named as the new lord advocate.
His previous job of solicitor general has been filled by senior procurator fiscal Lesley Thomson. The QC, who takes over as head of the prosecution service, is to bring forward proposals to tackle sectarianism next week.
Ms Hyslop was named secretary for culture and external affairs, Mr Neil is secretary for infrastructure and capital investment, while Mr Crawford has taken on a post overseeing parliamentary business and government strategy. His previous job of solicitor general has been filled by Glasgow's senior procurator fiscal, Lesley Thomson.
Richard Lochhead has retained his post as environment secretary, as has Nicola Sturgeon in health and Kenny MacAskill, in justice. The new cabinet sees Nicola Sturgeon remain deputy first minister and health secretary, with Mike Russell holding on to education, while Kenny MacAskill stays as justice secretary.
Mike Russell will also continue in his role as education secretary. Richard Lochhead will continue as environment secretary.
John Swinney remains finance secretary, although his area of responsibility will take a focus on jobs. John Swinney remains finance secretary, although his brief will take a focus on jobs, while Alex Neil has moved from being housing minister to a new infrastructure and capital investment role, to aid economic recovery.
Fiona Hyslop has retained responsibility for culture and external affairs, but her job has been moved from a junior ministerial position to cabinet status, as is the case for Bruce Crawford, who was named secretary for parliamentary business and government strategy.
The cabinet was announced after Mr Salmond, the SNP leader, was re-elected as first minister by MSPs and formally re-appointed to the role by the Queen.The cabinet was announced after Mr Salmond, the SNP leader, was re-elected as first minister by MSPs and formally re-appointed to the role by the Queen.
The first minister, said: "The Scottish government secured re-election on the basis of a successful team, and I am delighted to appoint my colleagues to a strengthened cabinet team, delivering on the priorities of the people of Scotland."
Describing the law officers as "Scotland's tough new prosecution team", Mr Salmond added that Ms Thomson would be stepping up measures to seize the ill-gotten gains of criminals, for re-investment in community and other projects.
The Scottish government pointed out the size of the cabinets under Labour's Jack McConnell and Henry McLeish stood at 11, while the salaries of the new SNP cabinet would be frozen at 2008 levels.