Nicola Sturgeon will create a new Cabinet role which will split John Swinney's current job.

Speaking at her monthly press conference in Bute House, the First Minister said she would break up John Swinney's current cabinet role, which deals with finance and the economy.

At her first reshuffle, Sturgeon will remove the economic role from Swinney's Cabinet brief and create a new post which deals specifically with economic growth.

The role of finance secretary would then centre solely on taxation, government spending and managing public-sector pensions.

The centrepiece of the role would continue to be drafting and presenting the annual Scottish Government's budget to Holyrood.

Sturgeon set out that the newly created economy role will aim to "stimulate growth, boost productivity and create jobs".

Scotland currently has a higher unemployment rate and a higher deficit to GDP ratio than the UK national average. It is believed the new office will aim to improve these levels.

The SNP leader refused to reveal who would fill the roles, saying: "I'm not putting names to roles today."

Sturgeon also stressed the new office and remit of finance secretary was "not a reflection on how these roles have been done in the past" but instead the changes needed due to "the new powers on tax and welfare".

The move was welcomed by the Scottish Conservatives who said it "makes sense" following further devolution.

The party's deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said:"With significant new powers on their way to Holyrood, it makes sense to split the portfolio in this way.

"It will also allow the voters to see exactly which SNP minister is trying to put their taxes up.

"And while the briefs may be divided, we can't forget that they will still be interlinked. If taxes are increased, that will very much have an impact on the wider economy. We want to see more taxpayers, not more taxes."

The First Minister is expected to reveal her full Cabinet after she is formally re-elected as First Minister at Holyrood on May 19.