1.3 Devolution Flashcards
‘devolution’ in England
regional devolution
- planned assemblies in parts of England abandoned after North East failed referendum in 2004 (78% said no)
- regions were granted limited form of administrative decentralisation via regional development agencies, and government offices for th eregions
Devolution in England
Regional Devolution after coaltion
- 2010 coalition dismantled regional program
- 10 areas have mayoral devolution: Greater London, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Liverpool city, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Tees Valley, West of England, North of Tyne
Devolution in England
decentralisation
- transfer of powers, budgets, responbilities to mayors through city deals
- no ACTUAL devolution
Devolution in England
EVEL
- HoC standing order gave effect to procedure
- House suspended it on standing orders 22 April 2020
- removed all together by the house on 13th July 2021
Devolution in England
covid 19 effect
public health service + education became responsibility of devolved administration in NI.
In Scotland and NI, policing and justice matters are also devolved!!
Devolution in Scotland
key events
1997, 1998, 2011
1997: Blair provides Wales, Scotland with referendums over devolution… Yes 74% No 25% Turnout 60%
1998 Scotland Act: establishes Scottish Parliament + executive, devolved primary legislative powers from Westminister
- 1MP returned for each constituency at an election held
- MPs returned by AMS
- Schedule 1 (makes provision for constituencies and regions for purposes of this Act and a numbre of regional members shall have effect)
2011 Holyrood election
- SNP replaced labour as dominant force in Scotland
- Scotland has a mandate for a referendum of independence because of this
- Scotland had a strong majority for remaining in the EU
Devolution in Scotland
key events (2)
2012, 2014, 2016, 2020
2012 Scotland Act: increases scotlands powers to vary income tax by up to 10p in the pound, allows Scotland to borrow up to £5b
2014: 55% said no to Scottish independence in referendum
2016 Scotland Act: increased Scotlands powers further… they could determine abortion laws, speed limits, further income tax powers, etc.
2020: UK Internal Market Act - allowed UK gov to spend directly on projects within Scotland, Wales, and NI.
Devolution in Scotland
new policies as a result of devolution
- ban on smoking march 2006
- 2016 mimimum alcohol price of 50p per unit
- free university education to scottish residents
- voting age reduced to 16 for local elections, referneudm,s and elections to scottish parliament
Devolution in Scotland
key facts
legislative process
- scottish parliament consists of MSPs elected under AMS
- UK parliament can still amend the terms of scottish legislation and reduce/extend areas it can make laws in
Devolution in Northern Ireland
key events
20th century
1972: Heath imposed direct rule on NI gov due to troubles
1992: partition of Ireland, NI given own parliament
1990s Major opened covert negotiations with Sinn Fein
1998: Good Friday Agreement negotiated power sharing assembly that would benefit both the unionists and the nationalists, in May, there were 2 referendums proving both NI and Ireland approved Stormonet
Devolution in Northern Ireland
key events
21st century
2002-2007: assembly suspended because of conflict between unionists/nationalists
2007: assembly re-opened after agreement between DUP and Sinn Fein
2020: assembly resumes, deal to see restored governemnt in NI
2022: DUP storms out, beleving Brexit was too republican due to hard border
2024: Sunak deal
Devolution in Northern Ireland
setup of the government
- first minister
- deputy first minister
- eight other ministers
first minister/deputy joint chairs, along with 8 other ministers, 7 of which are nominated by the political parties in the assembly through the D’Hont method
- minister of justice nominated through cross-community vote in the assembly, if the first miniter or deputy first minister reigns, the other must also resign ensuring strong incentive for both sides to cooperate.
Devolution in Northern Ireland
powers of NI gvoernmetn
- laws in a wide range of areas
- Eg. legislate on firarms, explosives, financial services, pensions regulation, import/export controls, broadcasting, etc.
Devolution in Northern Ireland
strengths/weakneses of the NI assembly
strengths: Education, agriculture, transport, policing, housing, health and social services, STV:+)
weaknesses: fears of a new hard border, refusal of unionist politicans
Devolution in Northern Ireland
bills past by NI 21st century
- Between 2011-2016: the assembly passed a total of 67 bills, including the 2015 Human Trafficking act helps provide support to victims’
- Addressing Bullying Schools Act 2016 provides a legal definition for Bullying
Devolution in Wales
brief history (key events)
medieval + 20th century
medieval period: Wales absorbed unto the English state
1997 Wales offered less extensive powers than Scotland, but given administrative powers in education. health, transport - essentially the power to implement acts passed in Parliament
1997 Welsh devolution referendum: 50.3% yes, 49.7% no
Devolution in Wales
Key events
21st century
2006: Government of Wales Act - seperated executive from legislature, gave limited powers and provided for a referendum
2011: referendum successful (63-36%) meaning Wales can enact primary legislation where it has devolved powers
2014 + 2017: Wales Acts - controling some taxes, income tax varying up to 10p, legislative control on elections, transport, and energy
still no primary legislative powers: (
Devolution in Wales
welsh parliament setup
SENEDD Cymru formed of 60 members, elected to represent people from constituencies and regions across Wales, members are voted in an election taking place once every 5 years
- the SENEDD is located in cardiff
- 16 year old scan vote in the FPTP system for welsh elections
Impact of Devolution
Has it worked?
- Scottish MP Peter Wishart says so, Scotland can make important decisions in terms of health/education, and these decisios are made much closer to where they have an effect
- but, some English MPs feel its unfair because Scotland recieves more public spending than other countries in the UK
Impact of Devolution
impact of covid 19
- many people felt MPs in Westminister don’t have local knowledge needed to make decisions increasingly devolved areas
Impact of Devolution
calls for a scottish independence referendum
yes/no to scottish indpendence
yes: scotland can only make decisions on ‘devolved matters’ not including subjects such as immigration, foreign policy, defence, and employment
no: 60% of scottish exports go to the rest of Britain, independence would ruin trade prospects in Scotland because there would be a hard border
- Scotland has a block grant from Westminister, its argued they wouldn’t survive without this, their budget deficit was 8.6% vs 2.6%
