3.1.1.5 devolution

Question 1

devolution

Answer 1

The transfer of politcal power, but not from sovereignty, from central government to subnational government

Question 2

primary legislative power

Answer 2

authority to make laws on devolved policy areas

Question 3

when were devolved institutions established?

Answer 3

1999 but pressure had been building since 1970s

Question 4

what did the scotland act 1998 do?

Answer 4

-gave the scottish parlaiment primary legislative powers in the range of policy areas, including law and order, health, education, transport, the environment and economic development.
-westminster no longer made laws for scotland on these matters.

Question 5

major powers of scotland, 2017

Answer 5

-income tax rates and other specified taxes
-health and social services
-abortion law
-all level of education
-economic development
-transport
-justice systems
-elections

Question 6

major powers of wales, 2017

Answer 6

-welsh rate of income tax
-health and social services
-all levels of education
-elections
-economic development
-transport
-local government
-housing

Question 7

major powers of northern ireland, 2017

Answer 7

-corporation tax
-health and social services
-all levels of education
-economic development
-environment
-housing
-local government
-justice systems

Question 8

scotland act 1998

Answer 8

-tax-varying power: it could alter the rate of income tax by 3%

Question 9

scotland act 2012

Answer 9

-tax varying powers: scotland could set income tax higher or lower

Question 10

scotland act 2016

Answer 10

compete control over income tax and gave them 50% of the VAT revenue. gave them control of around £15 billion

Question 11

reserved powers given by the scotland act 1998

Answer 11

-uk constitution
-defence and national security
-foreign policy
-fiscal, economic, monetary systems
-common market for british goods and services
-employment legislation
-social security (however a few powers were devolved to N ireland and scotland)
-broadcasting
-nationality and immigration
-nuclear energy

Question 12

what does the scotland 2016 act state?

Answer 12

-westminster will not legislate on devolved matters without consent
-the scottish parliament and government are ‘a permanent part of the united kingdom’s constitutional arrangements’
-the scottish parliament and governemt cannot be abolished unless approved by a referendum in scotland

Question 13

when did a independence refernsum for scotland come into the agenda?

Answer 13

SNP’s landslide victory in the 2011 scottish parlaiment election

Question 14

who typically voted for independence?

Answer 14

-men, the working class and those under 55

Question 15

the scotland act 2016 details

Answer 15

-the power to set income tax rates and bands
-some additional taxes and duties including air passenger duty
-the right to recieve 50% of VAT raised in scotland
-control over certain welfare benefits
-road signs and speed limits
-the franchise for scottish parliament
-rail franchises
-onshore gas and oil extraction

Question 16

how often are elections held?

Answer 16

4 years but this was extended to every 5 years after the wales act 2014

Question 17

when did the welsh government become known as the welsh assembly

Answer 17

2011

Question 18

wales act 2017

Answer 18

-gave primary legislative powers
-established the assembly and the welsh government as a permanent feature of the uk constitution. Subject of 2000 and to rename itself the Welsh parliament
-reserved powers similar to those of scotland

Question 19

government of wales act 2006

Answer 19

Enable the assembly to ask for further powers to be transferred from Westminster and allowed to gain primary legislative powers if approved in a referendum. The 2011 referendum resulted in a 64% yes vote.

Question 20

wales act 2014

Answer 20

-Put to place the first tranche of Silk’s proposals by devolving control of landfill tax and stamp duty.
-Newly devolved matters will include assembly and local government elections cracking row franchising and road speed limits. The Welsh government wanted policy in injustice to be developed ,but the UK government did not agree to it

Question 21

nationalists

Answer 21

an adherent of a political position in Northern Ireland who supports constitutional means of achieving improved rights fro catholics and the eventual incorporation of the six counties of northern ireland into the republic of ireland

Question 22

unionists

Answer 22

an adherent of a political position in Northern Ireland who supports the continued union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Question 23

Four differences between politics and government

Answer 23

-communal conflict
-distinctive party system
-security
-seperate systems of government

Question 24

the good friday agreement

Answer 24

It estab lished power-sharing devolution and required the UK and Irish governments to amend their constitutions to clarify the status of NI

Question 25

power-sharing devolution

Answer 25

a form of devolution in which special arrangements ensure that both communities in a divided society are represented in the executive and assent to legislation on sensitive issues

Question 26

English votes for English Laws

Answer 26

special procedures in the house of commons fro dealing with legislation that effects only england

Question 27

Arguments in favour of an english parliament

Answer 27

-it would complete devolution within the Uk, and resolve the english question, by giving england its own parliament -it would create a more coherent system of devolution, with a federal UK parliament and government responsible for UK-wide issues - rather than, at present, these combined with english issues -it would give political and institutional expression to english identity and interests.

Question 28

Arguments against the creation of an english parliament

Answer 28

-It would create an additional layer of government and create tensions between the UK governement and an English parliament and government -'devolution all round' would not create a coherent system because england is much bigger than the other nations of the union -there is only limited support in england for english parlaiment

Question 29

west lothian question

Answer 29

should scottish MPs be able to vote on english matters devolved to the scottish parlaiment

Question 30

Arguments in favour of devolution to the english regions

Answer 30

-it was British and making close to the people and address the different interests of the English regions -it would create balance devolution settlement within the UK because England is too large to have its own Parliament -It would enhance democracy as regional assemblies will take over the functions of an elected quangos -Areas such as Cornwall, Yorkshire and the north-east have a strong sense of regional identity -Regional assemblies could act as a catalyst for economic and cultural regeneration

Question 31

Arguments against the creation of regional assemblies

Answer 31

-few areas of England have a strong sense of regional identity -it would break Ireland and failed to provide expression of English interests and identity -there will be tensions between regional and local government -regional leaders would be dominated by urban rather than rural interests -there is little public support for creating a regional layer of government in England.

Question 32

structure of local government in 2017

Answer 32

-55 unitary authorites -27 county councils -201 district councils -36 metropolitian borough councils

Question 33

unitary authorities

Answer 33

responsible for a full range of local services

Question 34

county council

Answer 34

responsible for some local services (education, social services, policing and transport) in the shires

Question 35

district councils

Answer 35

responsible for local services (housing, leisure and refuse collection) in the shires

Question 36

metropolitian borough councils

Answer 36

respinsible for a full range of local services in urban areas

Question 37

greater london authority

Answer 37

-has strategic responsibilty for economic development, transport, planning and policing. -it consists of a directly elected mayor and a 25-member London assembly -the mayor sets the budget and determines policy for the authority -the main mayoral inititative was the congestion charge, introduced in 2003.

Question 38

local authorities are responsible fomany services including:

Answer 38

-education -social services -housing -roads and public transport -planning -environmental health -lesuire services

Question 39

quasi-federal

Answer 39

one in which the central government of a unitary state devolves some of its powers to subnational government

Question 40

main features of a quasi-federal state

Answer 40

-limited parliamentary sovereignty -quasi-federal parliament -joint ministerial committee -supreme court

Question 41

quasi-federal state

Answer 41

Westminster operates as an English parliament in the sense that it makes domestic law in England but it's federal parliament for Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland because it retains reserve powers on major UK wide matter