Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater to take on transport, housing and energy minister roles

Scottish Green co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater are set to become government ministers as part of their deal with the SNP.

The pair are expected to be formally appointed by the Scottish Parliament next week, if Green party members back the cooperation agreement at a meeting on Saturday.

Official ministerial titles are yet to be confirmed, but the remits will cover a broad range of issues reflecting priorities for cooperation in the agreement.

One of the pair will charged with a transport, housing and tenant rights brief.

The other will take on green skills, energy (and other industries) and the natural environment.

Harvie said: “With Greens in government we would be able to deliver positive change like tackling Scotland’s emissions, protecting nature, advancing tenants’ rights, bringing forward overdue equalities legislation and delivering an independence referendum.”

Slater added: “The time has come for Scotland to step up efforts to decarbonise our economy and invest in a greener, independent future. The cooperation agreement we’ve negotiated would put Greens at the heart of decision making at this crucial time.”

The proposed agreement between the two parties was published last week.

While it includes plans to work together on areas such as energy efficiency, active travel and support for renewables, it excludes a number of areas where the parties continue to disagree.

It means Green MSPs will be able to dissent from the government line when it comes to topics including aviation, fee-paying schools and fox hunting.

Speaking at the press conference last week, Nicola Sturgeon said: “The spirit of co-operation and consensus-building is very much in keeping with the founding principles of our Scottish Parliament.

“We do not agree on everything but we are coming out of our comfort zones to focus on what we do agree on. The agreement delivers bold policy action on pressing issues.”

According to the Scottish Greens constitution, any deal must be backed by a majority of members before it is signed.

Meanwhile, SNP members are today voting in a consultative poll about the deal.