25 Jan 2001
Mrs Helen Liddell MP, Member of Parliament for Airdrie and Shotts, was appointed Secretary of State for Scotland on 24 January 2001.
Speaking after her appointment Mrs Liddell said:
"I am overwhelmed and humbled to have been appointed the first woman Secretary of State for Scotland. I hope I can bring vigour, dignity and compassion to the job.
"I know that over the last 18 months John Reid has worked closely with the late Donald Dewar and more recently Henry McLeish to build a lasting partnership between the Government and the Scottish Executive.
"Working together, I hope to continue that partnership in order to deliver real and lasting benefits for the people of Scotland.
"Before devolution I served as Scottish Education Minister and it is a real pleasure to be returning to Scottish issues now that the devolved settlement is a firm part of the constitutional landscape of Britain."