Devolution examples

Question 1

What legislation on English issues would not have come into force without the support of Scottish MPs

Answer 1

Two arose in 2003-4, when legislation was made on foundation hospitals and tuition fees wouldn’t have passed without the votes of Labour MPs from Scotland. These MPs argued the bills included clauses that related to Scotland and the changes in public spending affect spending in scotland.

Question 1

After 1998, devolution of legislative powers led to high profile differences in Scotland and England…

Answer 1

The 1998 Teaching and Higher Education Act enabled Uk universities to begin charging tutition fees for the first time. However, after education policies was devolved to Scotland, changes were quickly made. In 2008, the Scottish Parliament passed The Graduate Endowment Abolition Act to restore free higher education in Scotland

Question 2

What percentage of voters voted against Independence in Scotland in 2014?

Answer 2

55%

Question 3

What happened in December 2022, showing a clash between Scottish Parliament and Westminster

Answer 3

After MSPs had passed the Gender Recognition (Reform) Bill, which looked to move the age of becoming legally transgender from 18 to 16, the UK government used their powers in the Scotland Act to veto it- using this power for the first time. The scottish Courts ruled in December 2023 that the blocking of the bill was legal

Question 4

When did Wales receive primary legislation powers?

Answer 4

after a referendum in 2011

Question 5

When did Wales receive tax raising powers?

Answer 5

After the wales Act 2017

Question 6

When did Nicola Sturgeon come into power and who did she replace?

Answer 6

Replaced Alex Salmond as SNP leader and first minister in 2014

Question 7

How many pieces of legislation has the Scottish Parliament passed since its creation?

Answer 7

300

Question 8

What is the only tax NI have control over?

Answer 8

Corporation tax

Question 9

What was the campaign against Scottish independence in 2014?

Answer 9

Better together was supported by Labour, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems, arguing Scotland had the best of both worlds: extensive devolution, but also economic, political and cultural benefits of being in the union. The economy would be weak if Scotland was on its own and the Treasury insisted there would be no currency union in an independent Scotland.

Question 10

Who is now the first minister of Scotland and how much did they win by in the election?

Answer 10

Humza Yousaf won the 2023 election 52 to 48% against Kate Forbes

However after the breakdown of the power sharing deal, Yousaf stepped down and John Swinney is now the leader of the SNP and Scottish first minister

Question 11

What is indyref 2, why did it occur and what happens next?

Answer 11

Indyref 2 was the attempt from Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP to try and hold a second Scottish Independence referendum in 2023. However, the UK government refused to give Scotland an section 30 order, meaning they could not hold a second referendum as it would be unconstitutional. The day it was ruled unconstitutional, Nicola Sturgeon proposed that the next general election for SNP would be campaigned as a de facto referendum

Question 12

Why is the NI assembly currently inactive?

Answer 12

Because the DUP are refusing to take their seats in the assembly as a protest against the NI protocol

However, the government was restored on February 3rd 2024 after the Safeguarding the Union paper was announced, relaxing the trade regulations between northern ireland and the rest of the UK

Question 13

What steps have been made towards regional governments?

Answer 13

Conservatives introduced executive devolution to combined authorities (city-regions). These consist of adjoining local councils and have been given additional funding and limited policy making powers on planning, transport and economic development (they do not have law making powers)

Question 14

What is an example of a combined authority?

Answer 14

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority was made in 2011 and a further 9 were in place by 2021. Most have directly elected mayors, but not assemblies

Question 15

What is an example of a policy brought into force by the London Mayor?

Answer 15

Congestion charge 2003 and the 2023 extension of ULEZ August 2023

Question 16

How many local authorities outside of London have elected mayors as of 2023

Answer 16

only 14

Question 17

How many metero mayors are there? (directly elected mayors that cover combined authorities, usually in urban areas)

Answer 17

8 took office between 2017 and 19

Question 18

Example of the Supreme court ruling between a devolved body and the government?

Answer 18

In R (Miller) V Secretary for Exiting the EU (2017) the SC confirmed that the Sewel Convention is not legally binding

Question 19

What are some examples of policy divergence?
(x4 examples)

Answer 19

Scotland has different income tax rates and the stamp duty threshold is higher in Scotland and Wales than in England

Scotland has banned smoking in public places and smacking children. These were then subsequently taken up by other governments

An opt out of organ donation system and a levy on plastic bags in Wales was also subsequently taken up by other governments

England has school league tables, whereas all constituent parts have abolished it. England still have SATs for primary school children, whereas Scotland and Wales replaced it with new tests and NI has no SATs at all

Question 20

How has the Westiminster Parliament been able to rectify some cases of policy divergence?

Answer 20

With devolved institutions suspended, Westminster Parliament legislated in 2019 to legalise same sex marriage and decriminalize abortion in NI

Question 21

How did Covid-19 show policy divergence?

Answer 21

All four governments adopted different approaches, meaning lockdown rules differed across the UK. For some, it was a benefit as it meant different governments could respond to differing local circumstances, but others noticed drawbacks as there were inconsistencies in the messages given across the UK. To begin with devolved bodies and the gov worked together effectively when devising the Coronavirus Act 2020, with leaders attending COBRA emergency meetings. But tensions emerged and cooperation declined

Question 22

What is an example of the Barnett Formula showing controversy?

Answer 22

For 2020/21 spending per person on public services was 29% higher in Scotland and NI and 23% higher in Wales, compared to England.

Question 23

What % of people claim to be English not British

Answer 23

17% of English people, compared to 7% in 1997

Question 24

What % of people claim to be Scottish rather than British

Answer 24

30% of Scottish people up from 23% in 2012, before Scotland Act of 2012 and 2016

Question 25

How is post-Brexit Ireland treated differently to the UK?

Answer 25

Due to the NI Protocol, which means that NI remains a part of the EU customs union and single market for goods, but checks are required for goods entering the rest of the UK

Question 26

What was the attempt for the UK gov to protect the internal market and limit the ability of the devolved institutions to change policy?

Answer 26

The internal market act 2020 limits devolved institutions making policy. They can, for example set their own regulations on food standards, but they cannot prevent goods produced in the rest of the UK with different standards from entering the market. It added regualtion of state aid and subsidies to the list of reserved powers, going against the trend of further devolution. This was imposed despite the lack of consent for devolved bodies

Question 27

What deal amended the NI protocol?

Answer 27

The Windsor Framework: while it keeps NI inside the EU’s single market for goods, it reduces controls of goods going from Great Britian which are intended to be sold in Northern Ireland. This creates red and green lanes at ports depending on where the products are going to be sold, with red lane items facing thorough checks

Question 28

Has the Windsor Framework prevented the shutdown of Stormont?

Answer 28

No- the DUP oppose the framework saying it’s too similar to the Protocol, undermining NI’s position in the UK. They continue to boycott devolved government in protest