1.3- devolution

Question 1

what was the vote and turnout of the 1997 Scottish devolution referendum?

Answer 1

74% voted in favour of devolution

Question 2

what was the vote and turnout of the 1997 welsh devolution referendum?

Answer 2

50.5% voted in favour
on a 50% turnout

Question 3

what did the london authority act do?

Answer 3

1999 created a democratically elected mayor and an elected london assembly

Question 4

what powers does the greater london authority have?

Answer 4

• policing, transport, economic development
• e.g ULEZ and congestion charges

Question 5

for what periods has the northern ireland assembly been suspended?

Answer 5

2002-2007
2017- 2020
2022- 2024 : DUP refused to form a govt due to the sinnfein first minister

Question 6

When was the Scottish Independence referendum

Answer 6

2014, 55% not in favour of independence

Question 7

what was the result of the 2004 north east devolution referendum?

Answer 7

78% no vote

Question 8

What was introduced to combat the West Lothian question

Answer 8

2015 EVEL was introduced, ensured legislation only affecting england recieved a majority of support from english mps
SCRAPPED IN 2021

Question 9

what was the result and turnout of the 1998 referendum on the London Mayor assembly?

Answer 9

34% turnout, 70% voted in favour

Question 10

what powers does the scottish parliament have now? how has this changed?

Answer 10

fiscal devolution
- controls health and social policy, education, environment, law, home affairs
- controls income tax
- right to 50% of all VAT raised
- contitutional powers: controls composition and electoral system

originally had service devolution

Question 11

how is scottish income tax different to that of the rest of the UK?

Answer 11

• the higher and top rates of income tax 2% higher than the rest of the UK

Question 12

what % of spending in scottland is generated by hollyrood?

Answer 12

• around 60%

Question 13

what is the sewell convention? when was it codified into law?

Answer 13

• westminster has to get the consent of hollyrood before legislating on a devolved matter
• 2016 scotland act

Question 14

Give a recent example of the us of section 35.

Answer 14

• 2023 westminster struck down the scottish gender recognition act

Question 15

what % of people voted in favour of law making devolution in wales?

Answer 15

• 2011 welsh devolution referendum
• 64% voted in favour

Question 16

what powers does wales currently have? how has this changed?

Answer 16

service devolution
- health and social services, eduation, environment, housing
- composition and elections
- collects 10% of wales income tax

originally wales only had administrative powers

Question 17

what current powers does the northern irish assemby have? how has this changed?

Answer 17

• service devolution: health and social services, education, environment, housing
• has gained very few powers since devolution in 1999

Question 18

what is the name of the system used to determine the allocation of funding to devolved bodies?

Answer 18

• the barnette formula

Question 19

In 2021, how much did funding per head in devolved regions differ from the average funding per head?

Answer 19

• Norther ireland: 14% above
• scotland: 11% above
• waled: 6% above
• england: 2% below

Question 20

how did covid policy vary between devolved bodies?

Answer 20

• after the first lockdown NI and E lifted restrictions faster, opening up non-essential retail and pubs and resturants

Question 21

how does higher education policy differ between devolved bodies?

Answer 21

• E: coalition govt increased fees to £9250 per year and scrapped most grants
• S: no tuition fees (SNP 2008)
• W: capped at £9000, £1000 grants
• NI: tuition fees at around £4600 a year

Question 22

what are the benifits of devolution?

Answer 22

• devolved bodies can implement policy that better reflects their region
• more proportional electoral systems
• has satisfied some demands for independence and helped to prevent the break up of the UK
• peace in northern ireland

Question 23

what are the costs of devolution?

Answer 23

• undermines parliamentary sovereignty
• undermines equal citizenship due to varience in policy
• assymetry of devolution undermines unity
• has fuelled increased nationalism and calls for independence (tensions with westminster)

Question 24

what was the turnout in the 2022 senned elections?

Answer 24

46.6% turnout

Question 25

what are the arguments for further devolution to england?

Answer 25

• there is significant assymetry in the current system
• would help to solve the west lothian question
• better representation of english voters

Question 26

what are the arguments against further devolution to england?

Answer 26

• limited public appetite for further devolution
• may be unequal as england is much larger (85% of the population)