Devoloution

Question 1

What is devolution?

Answer 1

The transfer of policy making powers from the center to subordinate subnation instetution, however, the state wide legislative retains ultimate authority

Question 2

How can we describe the process of develution within the UK?

Answer 2

Asymmetrical each of the developed institution have different powers and distinctive features
It’s been a process not one events

Question 3

Arguments for devolution in the UK?

Answer 3

-Increased location of decision making
-Will lead to english devolution
-Government closer to citizens
-Reversed anglocentric domination of the UK
-Popular support in scotland (Indyref)
-Irish national support sinn fane
-First step to independence- rising support for SNP and Brexit rejected from Scotland

Question 4

Arguments against devolution in UK?

Answer 4

-Lack of uk wide coordination strategy e..g. in covid etc
-Will lead to calls for english devolution
-Different tax rules in diff parts of UK
-Unequal spending from the gov
-Unionist support for NI but not for DUP and lack of support for wales
-First step to independence (Uk stronger together)- Economy, security, sports achievement and shared history will all be gone

Question 5

What is quazi-federalism?

Answer 5

almost a federal process in which the central gov of a unitary state devolves some of its powers to subnational govs
Has some federal and unitary states

Question 6

How is the UK quasi federalism?

Answer 6

-One supreme legal authority located at center, in practice no longer makes domestic policy for some part of the state
-Difficult for the centre to abolish subnational tears of gov
-Different policy frameworks operated within the USA
-Senior judges rule on questions concern division of competence

Question 7

Scottish devolution- How ar MSP elected and how is the parliament made up?

Answer 7

By the AMS system, 73 through FPTP and 56 additional members through party system

Question 8

Whos is the Scottish gov and how is the first minister decided?

Answer 8

Draws up policy proposals and implements legislation
First minister is the leader of the largest party

Question 9

What are the policy devolved powers given to scottish parliament
Taxes, H&S policy, Environment, Education and culture and Law and home affairs

Answer 9

Tax- income tax and bans, specified tax duties such as air passengers and stamp duty
H&S- Health service, social service, some welfare benefits and abortion law
Environment- Agriculture and fisheries: environment policies, housing, transport
Education and culture- Primary, secondary and university education, sport and tourism
Law and home affairs- Justice, police, prisons and elections

Question 10

How did the Scotland act 2016 reform the scot act in 1998?

Answer 10

Giving a lot more powers such as tax duties, receive 50% VAT in scot, welfare benefits road signs, speed limits, rail franchise

Question 11

What occured in 2014 independence referendum?

Answer 11

-Wanted to keep queen as head of state and pound, they wanted a written constitution and full responsibility for welfare and foreign and defence
-Result was 55.3% NO

Question 12

What is the Scotland act 2016?

Answer 12

Even if the answer was no to previous referendum they want more devolution powers
e.g. The power to set income tac rates and bands
-additional taxes and duties including air passengers
-Right to receive 50% if VAT raised in Scotland
-Control over welfare
-Transport
-Scotland parliament elections

Question 13

Why is scotland believed to be quasi federalism?

Answer 13

Because they have tax varying powers and its difficult to take this away
Westminster no longer takes policy’s here e.g. scot had own covid rules

Question 14

Pros for scottish devolution?

Answer 14

-democratic and helps express identity
-Provides a legitimate gov proportional and representative e.g. 199 execution lab and lib had 53% in 2003 and 50%
-Socially representative chamber such as women, minority and ethnic groups 2003-40% women
-Preserve Uk as political entity
-Distinct scottish policy e.g. lockdown rules in pandemic)

Question 15

Cons of scottish devolution?

Answer 15

-got of to a poor start (parliament building meant to be 40 mill not 400 mill)
-Fraught with danger, they want more power, they will never be satisfied until independence
-Executives side with English
-Policy differences in scotland england causing difficulty’s
-Raises west lothian question

Question 16

Welsh devolution- How are welsh MWAs elected and how is the welsh assembly made up?

Answer 16

Uses the AMS, made up of 60 members 40 by FPTP and 20 elected in multimember’s using the list

Question 17

Welsh devolution- Who is the first minister and what are their powers?

Answer 17

The leader of largest party heads gov and appoints the cabinet

Question 18

What are the devolved powers of the welsh assembly? Tax, H&S, environment, education and culture and Law and home affairs?

Answer 18

-Tax- welsh rate of income tax control over 10p
-H&S- health and social services
-Environment- Agriculture and fisheries- environment policies, housing, transport
-Education and culture- Primary secondary and university education, sport and tourism
-Law and home affair- elections

Question 19

How have welsh powers expanded since the 2017 wales act?

Answer 19

Income tax, Welsh gov as a permeants feature of the UK constitution

Question 20

What was the 1998 Good friday agreement?

Answer 20

Power sharing devolution to clarify status of N. Ireland consisting of 108 members MPs to cut 90 ahed 2021, ussing STV

Question 21

What powers were given to stormont?
Tax, H&S, Environment, education , Education and culture and Law and home affairs?

Answer 21

-Tax- Corporation tax
-H&S- Health social services and some welfare benefits
-Environment- Agriculture and fisheries, economic development and policies, housing, transport, local gov, local gov and planning
-Education and Vulture- Primary and secondary and university education, sport, tourism
-Law and home affirms- Justice, police, prisons and elections

Question 22

N. Irish devolution, How was fair representation of unionists and nationalist guaranteed?

Answer 22

Both parties are either the first of second ministers
In 2017 this collapsed however as sinn fein and DUP refused to nominate a first and deputy minister
Recovered in Jan 2020, reclose and reopened 2024

Question 23

What was the communal conflict in N.Ireland?

Answer 23

divisions between unionist and nationalists
Unionalist identify with Britain state and protestant. Nationalist sinn fein and catholic
-Now 45.7 Catholics, 43.4% Protestant

Question 24

N.ireland devolution?
Politics and gov in N.Ireland elsewhere in UK

Answer 24

Security-Terrorist attacks killing protestants and catholics in troubles 3600 killed
IRA called for a deadline since 1995 but breakaway groups are still here
Communal conflict- Sinn fane vs DUP
Distinctive party systems- UK party don’t tend to put N. Ireland candidate
Separate systems of gov- N.irelands governed differently

Question 25

Intergovernmental bodies in good friday agreement?

Answer 25

The republic of ireland has removed it constitutional claim to 6 country’s in north. The agreement also pared way for a new police service of N.Ireland and the early releases of those imprisoned for terrorist offences in the troublers

Question 26

Intergovernmental bodies in good friday agreement? North south ministerial council?

Answer 26

In this body, The N.I executive and rep government cooperate on cross border issues

Question 27

Intergovernmental bodies in good friday agreement? British Irish Council?

Answer 27

Here the UK and Irish govts, the developed administrations in scotland wales, Ireland exchange and policy ideas
-Also includes isle of man and channel islands

Question 28

Intergovernmental bodies in good friday agreement? British irish intergovernmental conference?

Answer 28

In the UK and Irish gov discuss the situation of N.Ireland

Question 29

What is the west lothian question?

Answer 29

Majority of MPs vote against measure but it’s passed with support of MPs in representing constituencies’ who aren’t themselves affected by act in q’s (Wales and Scotland)

Question 30

What’s been done to reduce west lothian q’s?

Answer 30

Reducing no of Scottish MPs in Westminster from 72 to 59 in 2004

Question 31

Policy divisions and quasi federalism in the UK?

Answer 31

Abolishment of tuition fees and medical charges in scotland
Free dental care (S)
Free eye checks (S)
Free personal elderly’s (S)
Pursuit of renewable projects (S)
Minimum prices of alcohol (S)
-Different lockdown rules (S W NI)
-Exam cancellation
-Drink driving limits no alcohol after 10pm (S)
-No toll cost on roads bridges and tunnels (S)

Question 32

Should Britain have it’s own parliament and solutions?

Answer 32

Debated
-An english parliament
-English votes for English laws (EVEL)
-English regional assembly’s

Question 33

What is EVEL?

Answer 33

Introduced in 2015, Bills certified by the speaker as England can only be MPs represented by english constituents in first and second readings
MPs from other county can vote on 3rd reading

Question 34

What’s an English parliament?

Answer 34

A parliament that sits in England and have powers of developed institutions

Question 35

Arguments for an english parliament?

Answer 35

-Would complete develution
-A more coherent system for devolution a federal UK parliament and govt responsive for UK wide issues
-Endorese english identity and intrest
-Bring decisions closer to people

Question 36

Arguments against the english parliament?

Answer 36

-Additional layer of gov
-Tension between parliaments and gov
-Devolution all round will not credit a coherent an equipable system as England’s much bigger then other nations in UK
-Support limited on average on 20% of English voters want this

Question 37

Why do people not want EVEL?

Answer 37

Decisions on public spending in England may affect funding in rest of UK
-Govt with a small majority won’t be able to deliver manifesto
-Only 6/19 govts since 1945 have has enough of MPs from England to give them overall majority in parliament

Question 38

What are elected regional assemblies?

Answer 38

Directly elected regional assemblies’ with limited executive functions in 8 english regions out of lond

Question 39

Why was there a decision to stop elected regional assemblies?

Answer 39

78% voted against this in 2004 referendum proposed by Blair

Question 40

Arguments for elected regional assembly’s?

Answer 40

-Bring decions closer to people
-More balanced devolution settlement as a parliament isn’t big enough for whole of UK
-More democratic as it would take over functions of unelected quangos
-Areas like cornwall and yorkshire will have a strong sense of regional identity’s
-Act as a catalyst to economic and cultural regeneration

Question 41

Arguments against elected regional assemblies?

Answer 41

-Few areas in UK have strong sense of regional identity
-Break up england
-Tension between local and regional gov
-Regional assemblies would be dominated in urban rather then rather interest
-Little public support