Our Structure
The government in Scotland is structured into a number of directorates. Directorates and their related public bodies are responsible for putting government policy into practice.
The Scottish Government
- 1 Permanent Secretary
- 8 Director General
- 45+ Directorates
The Permanent Secretary is the senior civil servant in Scotland. The Permanent Secretary supports the government in developing, implementing and communicating its policies.
Directors-general & directorates
There are eight directors-general who head up the Scottish civil service. A director-general manages a number of directorates and agencies which are responsible for proposing legislation and putting Scottish Government policy into practice.
Executive Agencies
Non-ministerial departments are headed by senior civil servants. Executive agencies are part of the Scottish Government and generally have a strong focus on the management and direct delivery of public services, but can also provide strategic policy input.