[5] The requirement for the building arose as a result of a post First World War policy of limited transfer of devolved administrative (but not legislative) power to Scotland from London.

The Civil Service had long been preparing and considering attacks on Scotland, with Princes Street Gardens being dismantled and dug up to develop air raid shelters in preparation for air raid attacks by Nazi Germany.

Considerable parts of Scotland were also being excavated to develop airfields and other defences, with emergency hospitals created in order to cater for anticipated casualties.

[12] Alongside the core business areas of the Scottish Government and overseeing the health and justice policy of the country, St Andrew's House is home to the office of the First Minister, Deputy First Minister, Cabinet Secretaries and the civil servants and the key corporate functions and bodies who support them.

[14] Today, the turreted Governor's House is all that remains of the former prison, next to the Old Calton Burial Ground and Political Martyrs' Monument.

The large Category A listed Art Deco-influenced building looks out over Waverley Station, the Canongate and Holyrood Park.

[15] The building features a number of sculpted decorations, also in the Art Deco style, which are credited to several sculptors: Sir William Reid Dick designed symbolic figures; heraldic devices are the work of Alexander Carrick and Phyllis Bone; the large bronze doors were designed by Walter Gilbert and executed by H.H.

[16] St Andrew's House is designated a Category A listed building by Historic Environment Scotland.