Devolution

Question 1

what caused scottish independence?

Answer 1

• Scottish Devolution Referendum 1997
• 74% yes for a S parl
• Scotland Act 1998 devolved powers to their parl

Question 2

what caused welsh independence?

Answer 2

• Welsh Assembly Referendum 1997
• 50.3% yes for a welsh assembly
• Gov of Wales Act 1998
• devolved power to the new welsh assembly

Question 3

what caused northern irelands independence?

Answer 3

• Good Friday Agreement 1997
• 50.3% yes in agreement with the gf agreement
• Northern Ireland Act 1998 devolved powers to the NI assembly

Question 4

what are the 9 reserved matters? (BCDEEFINT)

Answer 4

• benefits and social security
• constitutional reform
• defence
• economic policy
• employment
• foreign policy
• immigration
• nuclear, oil, coal, gas, electricity
• trade and industry

Question 5

what are 3 devolved matters for scotland?

Answer 5

• education
• taxation
• health and social services

Question 6

explain the sewel convention

Answer 6

• established that westminster wouldnt normally legislate with regard to devolved matters to scotland without the consent of the scottish parl

Question 7

what are 3 devolved matters for wales?

Answer 7

• education
• transport
• health

Question 8

what is the difference between northern irish unionists and nationalists?

Answer 8

• unionists want ni to remain in the uk
• nationalists want ni and the republic of ireland to reunify

Question 9

how are unionists and nationalists balanced in the welsh assembly?

Answer 9

• the largest party in the largest community appoints a first minister
• the largest party in the second largest community appoints a deputy first minister
• both ministers have equal positions with equal powers
• if 1 resigns, the other also loses their position

Question 10

how has power been devolved in england?

Answer 10

• mayor of london following a 1998 referendum
• devolved deals with combined authorities, primarily in cities eg west mids

Question 11

explain the northern ireland protocol

Answer 11

• requiring ni to continue to follow the eu rules and product standards and carry out checks on products from great britain
• creates an effective border in the irish sea, and helped lead to the collapse of the executive

Question 12

whats consociationalism?

Answer 12

• mandatory power sharing in deeply divided communities

Question 13

what are 2 positive impacts of devolution?

Answer 13

• democracy has been enhanced as government is much more region sensitive eg the congestion charge in london
• the devolved bodies are elected using more proportional electoral systems leading to increased representation eg AMS in S and W

Question 14

what are 2 negatives of devolution?

Answer 14

• local representation causes inequality among uk citizens eg free uni in scotland
• devolved elections usually have low turnout eg 46% in the 2021 senedd elections