Devolution Flashcards
(8 cards)
What examples of devolution are there in the UK?
. Devolved powers from Westminster to the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly.
. Local councils
. Mayor of London (and other areas like Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire etc.)
What is devolution like in Scotland?
Devolution was given to Scotland by Blair in 1997 after a referendum.
The Scotland Act 1998 granted the Scottish Parliament primary legislative powers in law, order, health, education, transport and environment. The Scotland Act 2012 gave them tax-raising powers, and the Scotland Act 2016 (Devomax) gave them powers over abortion laws, speed limits, ability to lower voting age to 16-17.
What does devolution look like in Wales?
The Government of Wales Act 1998 set up the Welsh Assembly and granted powers over secondary legislation. The Government of Wales Act 2006 gave the Welsh Government important general powers, such as improvements over the economic, social and environmental well-being of Wales, and a power to support culture. The 2011 Referendum on whether the Assembly should have powers over 20 areas of legislation was approved with a 64% yes vote. The Wales Act 2014 gave the 1st major transfer of tax-raising powers and the Wales Act 2017 granted powers over electoral systems, energy efficiency and onshore gas and oil activity. The Senedd and Elections Act 2020 changed the name to Senedd Cymru and gave the vote to 16 and 17s.
What does devolution in Northern Ireland look like?
Northern Ireland’s devolution took place during the backdrop of the Troubles where their Assembly was suspended in 1972 and abolished a year later. In 1999, the Assembly was re-instated after the 1998 Good Friday Agreement - a referendum approved by a 72% yes vote. It can pass laws on transferred matters including health, education, agriculture and rural development and policing and justice. Between 2000 and 2017, 173 Acts have been passed - Ron Davies said ‘Devolution is a process not an event’ which applies to Northern Irish devolution which helped bring peace.
What signficant changes have occurred due to devolution?
In Scotland, Scottish university students attending a Scottish university do not have to pay tuition fees, whereas they do in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Also in Scotland, there has been higher pay levels for teachers. The Welsh Assembly has introduced initiatives in childcare and has abolished prescription charges. Some commentators have described devolution as ‘quasi-federalism’, whereby the UK now has many of the features of a federal system (where there is a division between central and regional governments).
How has Scotland’s desire for independence been amplified by devolution?
Devolution set up the Scottish Parliament which elected the SNP who called for independence. Indyref in 2014 resulted in 55% voting to remain in the UK. After Brexit, the SNP called for another Indyref in 2022 but the Supreme Court ruled against it. Devolution has given Scotland the confidence that it can govern itself better than with the aid of Westminster.
What devolved local government authorities are there?
57 unitary councils - responsible for education, social care, refuse collection, parks, libraries. Found in large towns and cities - Portsmouth.
. 36 Metropolitan boroughs - Similar powers to unitary councils but are longer established. Found in urbanised areas e.g Midlands.
. 25 county councils - Local authority structure that oversee social services, education etc. Found in less urbanised places like Suffolk.
. 32 London Boroughs - London’s own set up for local gov, a structure that was approved by a 1998 referendum. There are boroughs and a Greater London Authority which has 25 elected members and a mayor.
. City Mayors - The Local Gov Act 2000 allowed any local council to hold a referendum to introduce a mayor.
What is the West-Lothian question?
The ‘West Lothian question’ was recognised as a consequence of devolution by the former MP for West Lothian, Tam Dalyell. It is the issue that England constituency MPs cannot vote on many matters affecting Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, however, Westminster MPs from these regions can vote on matters which potentially only affect England. This has been partially addressed by the change to the passing of legislation. Following a second reading, a bill which involves England only can be vetoed and make no further progress if a majority of MPs representing English constituencies decide to. Also, an extended range of powers is being devolved to a range of city-regions based on major cities such as Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol, often led by a directly-elected Mayor.
