By Steve Bargeton, political editor

SCOTLAND’S NEW Cabinet was formally sworn in to office in a ceremony at the Court of Session in Edinburgh yesterday.

The five senior ministers, who with First Minister Alex Salmond make up the nationalist cabinet, were presented before Lord President, Lord Hamilton in Number One court.

First to be sworn in was the SNP’s deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon, the cabinet secretary for health.

She was followed by North Tayside MSP John Swinney, the cabinet secretary for finance and sustainable growth, who was the only minister to swear an oath, the others making an affirmation.

He was followed by Fiona Hyslop, cabinet secretary for education and lifelong learning, Kenny MacAskill at justice and Richard Lochhead at rural affairs and the environment.

Mr Salmond was sworn in as First Minister last week.

Later they all met at the First Minister’s official residence Bute House for the first formal meeting of the new Nationalist cabinet. Mr Salmond has moved the weekly meeting of the Cabinet from a Wednesday morning to a Tuesday afternoon.

In total there will be 16 ministerial posts including Mr Salmond, cabinet secretaries and junior ministers. This compares with 19 ministerial posts in the previous Labour-Lib Dem administration.