Scottish First Minister Henry McLeish has appointed new Ministers for Education and Lifelong Learning as part of his newly-formed cabinet.

Having taken over the First Minister's mantle from Donald Dewar, McLeish has given his up his old role as Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Minister to former Communities minister Wendy Alexander, while Jack McConnell will become Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs.

Deputy Ministers have also been appointed: Nicol Stephen will become Deputy Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs and Alasdair Morrison has been made Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and Gaelic.

Wendy Alexander's full list of responsibilities cover the Economy, Business and Industry including Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, tourism, trade and inward investment, further and higher education, the science base and e-commerce, Digital Scotland, lifelong learning, training and the delivery of the new deal.

Former Finance Minister Jack McConnell appears to have his work cut out for him already, by inheriting the Scottish Examinations debacle from Sam Galbraith. Each member of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) board has written to him offering to quit after he accepted the resignation of SQA chairman David Miller. McConnell has a background in education and the Civil Service and taught Maths for nine years.