Richard Lochhead reappointed to Scottish cabinet
Lochhead's appointment, along with The Scottish Government's new Cabinet team, has been announced by First Minister Alex Salmond, subject to the necessary parliamentary approval.
His responsibilities cover agriculture, fisheries and rural development including aquaculture and forestry, environment and natural heritage, land reform, water quality regulation, sustainable development, and climate change.
Richard Lochhead was born in 1969 and raised in Paisley. He attended Williamwood High School in Clarkston, Glasgow College of Commerce, where he gained an HNC in Business Studies, and the University of Stirling where he graduated with a BA (Hons) in Political Studies.
His first job was with the South of Scotland Electricity Board and other previous posts include office manager for Alex Salmond MP.
He joined the Scottish National Party while still at school in the early 1980s. Immediately prior to his election to the Scottish Parliament in 1999, he worked as an economic development officer for Dundee City Council.
In 1999, Richard was elected to the Scottish Parliament as a North East MSP. He stood down from his regional seat to fight and win the Moray constituency by-election in April 2006. He was SNP spokesman on Environment, Energy, Rural Affairs and Fishing. He was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment in May 2007.
He lives in Elgin with his wife and two sons. He enjoys reading history and fiction, cycling, and cinema.
