1.3 - The Role and Powers of the Devolved Bodies in the UK Flashcards
Devolution in England - An English Parliament - Is there an English Parliament and why not? (3)
- England does not have its own P despite success in devolution to the other regions
- This is in part due to lack of demand – English nationalism has not taken a sufficient hold to warrant English devolution
- England is also to big to be devolved – if it were to split it would effectively control its own Parliament as well as Westminster - in doing so it would control 84% of the UK’s pop and 95% of the UK’s GDP
Devolution in England - Regional devolution - What happened in 2004 and what was the outcome of this?
- In 2004, a referendum was help in the North-East to test public opinion for devolved regions in the UK
- This was rejected by 78% which led to the idea being abandoned
Devolution in England - Regional devolution - What happened under the coalition gov?
Under the coalition, cities, towns and districts were given the opportunity to elect mayors and have their own cabinet system, but this had very little uptake
Devolution in England - Regional devolution - Why is regional devolution generally seen as ineffective? (3)
- Generally seen as ineffective in tackling the three fold issue of local gov;
1) Lack of autonomy from central gov
2) Lack of accountability to local electorates
3) Low levels of public interest in local gov and politics
Devolution in England - City gov in London - What happened in 1997 and 2000?
Labour created the devolved London assembly and elections for London mayor in 1997 – this was upheld by a referendum in 2000 of the London people
Devolution in England - City gov in London - What is put forward under the London Mayor legislation?
Under the legislation, mayor controls allocation of funds for London but assembly can veto this and other mayoral proposals with a two-thirds majority
Devolution in England - What is the electoral system in London and what does this lead to?
Election system is SV for the mayor and AMS for the assembly – no real possibility of a single party enjoying an overall majority and ensured the mayor would always face obstruction for controversial measures
Devolution in WL, SC, and NI - WL - Assembly name, electoral system, first act?
- Senedd
- AMS
- Government of Wales Act 1998
Devolution in WL, SC, and NI - WL - Powers (5)
- Health
- Education
- Local authority services
- Public transport
- Agriculture
Devolution in WL, SC, and NI - WL - Second Act(s)
- Wales Act 2014 / Wales Act 2017
Devolution in WL, SC, and NI - WL - Powers Post Second Act(s) (7)
- Referendum in Wales to decide whether gov should have partial control of income tax (removed by 2017 Act)
- Control over various taxes EG landfill tax
- Limited powers to borrow money and invest it in major projects and housing
- Confirmation of fiscal measures passed to the Welsh assembly
- Greater freedom in borrowing
- Transfer of administrative and legislative responsibility for more areas
- Creation of the Welsh Revenue Authority to collect Welsh taxes
Devolution in WL, SC, and NI - SC - Assembly name, electoral system, first act?
- Scottish Parliament (Holyrood)
- AMS
- Scotland Act 1998
Devolution in WL, SC, and NI - Powers post first Act (7)
- Health service
- Education
- Roads/public transport
- Making criminal and civil law
- Policing
- Local authority services
- Vary rate of income tax up or down by 3%
Devolution in WL, SC, and NI - SC - Second Act
Scotland Act 2016
Devolution in WL, SC, and NI - Powers post second Act (7)
- Widening areas of Scottish jurisdiction
- Regulation of energy industry
- Welfare services including housing and disability
- Half the receipts collected from VAT in Scotland
- Income tax and income tax receipts
- Air passenger duty and its revenue from Scottish airports
- Some business taxes