23.) The Rights and Responsibilities of the Different Devolved Bodies in the UK

Question 1

When was devolution introduced?

Answer 1

1921 - Northern Ireland had its own Parliament until 1972

Question 2

What are the voting systems in use in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Answer 2

-Scotland and Wales use Additional Member System (AMS)
-Northern Ireland uses Single Transferable Vote (STV)

Question 3

Name some key pieces of Scottish devolution legislation?

Answer 3

-Scotland Act (1998) - Scottish Parliament established, granted powers over law and order, health, education, transport and the environment. Can also levy some income tax: Scottish Variable Rate (SVR)
-Scotland Act (2012) - more tax raising powers for Scotland, devolved stamp duty and landfill taxes. Also permitted Scotland to set up own tax authority - Revenue Scotland.
-Scotland Act (2016) - More tax powers, Scottish Parliament granted powers of abortion law etc, allowed to say who can vote in Scottish Parliament

Question 4

What’s a key difference in Scottish elections?

Answer 4

Scottish voters can vote at 16

Question 5

Name some key pieces of Welsh devolution legislation?

Answer 5

-Government of Wales Act (1998) - created Welsh Parliament, allowed them to legislate on agriculture, fisheries, education, housing and highways
-Government of Wales Act (2006) - new powers can be gained via referendum, set up Welsh Assembly
-2011 referendum - 64% yes vote for more powers
-Wales Act (2014) - devolved stamp duty, business rates and landfill tax
-Wales Act (2017) - Welsh Parliament granted right to select who votes in their elections, granted powers over railways, energy, oil and gas and set up Welsh Revenue Authority
-Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act (2020) - changed Welsh Assembly name to Senedd Cymru and granted 16/17 year olds right to vote

Question 6

What was the name of the conflict that happened in Northern Ireland between 1969-1998?

Answer 6

The Troubles

Question 7

What was the name of the agreement which ended The Troubles?

Answer 7

Good Friday Agreement

Question 8

By what margin was the Good Friday Agreement approved?

Answer 8

71%-29%

Question 9

Why was the Northern Ireland Assembly suspended between 2017-2020?

Answer 9

The DUP’s handling of the Renewable Heat Initiative scandal and divisions over an Irish Language Act

Question 10

Why did Westminster intervene when the NI Assembly was suspended?

Answer 10

To pass laws legalising abortion and same sex marriage

Question 11

In what ways is the devolved government of NI different to Scotland and Wales?

Answer 11

-The NI Assembly government MUST be comprised of both the largest Unionist (pro-British) and Nationalist (Pro-Irish) parties
-MLAs must designate themselves as either Unionist, Nationalist or other
-NI’s Assembly has not seen significant increases in powers since 1998

Question 12

Name a case study to do with devolution?

Answer 12

The M4 relief road - PM Johnson promised to build a relief road for the M4 at Newport, as the Welsh Government refused to build it on climate grounds. Welsh Government said PM has no say on building roads as it’s a devolved matter

Question 13

Give reasons why devolution has worked in the UK?

Answer 13

-Recognition of regional political differences (Scotland more left leaning, reflected in higher taxes on those earning £150,000+ compared to UK)
-Strengthened Union - best of both worlds, autonomous domestically but interconnected globally
-Popular with voters (Wales refs: 1997 compared to 2011)
-Peace process in NI helped by devolution
-Different electoral systems and showing they work
-Incubators of good policies which can be rolled out on larger scale (I.E smoking ban first in Scotland, due to successful, rest of UK too within a year)

Question 14

Give reasons why devolution has NOT worked in the UK?

Answer 14

-Inequalities (Free uni in Scotland, but not rest of UK)
-Devolution weakened UK, encouraged close referendum in Scotland (55-45% win for staying), highlighted differences with Brexit too, NI + Scotland voting remain, different to the rest of the UK
-SNP is largest party and want second referendum, suggesting devolution hasn’t quelled want for full independence
-Relations in NI still fragile, evidenced by suspension of NI Assembly (2017-20)
-No momentum for change on voting system nationally, despite its use in devolved elections
-Some policy ideas would’ve happened anyway due to Westminster

Question 15

What different forms of informal devolution exist in England?

Answer 15

-57 unitary councils (refuse collection, education etc) chiefly found in cities and small counties
-36 Metropolitan boroughs (found in urban areas in the north and midlands - Barnsley)
-25 County Councils - found in less urbanised areas
-188 borough, district or city councils
-10 Combined authorities - Greater Manchester
-32 London boroughs, involved in Greater London assembly of 25 members, London has an elected mayor too
-15 City mayors and 8 metro mayors, introduced under Local Government Act (2000)

Question 16

What has happened with at least two mayoral posts?

Answer 16

Torbay and Hartlepool abolished their posts, showing they don’t think it’s very useful

Question 17

Why is tax an issue for councils?

Answer 17

Their tax raising powers are limited, with council tax rates pre-defined by Parliament

Question 18

Give arguments for an English Parliament?

Answer 18

-Would complete devolution process, MP Theresa Gorman posed a PMB in 1998 to give a referendum create an English Parliament
-An English Parliament would end the West Lothian question which allows Scottish and Welsh MPs to vote on English matters but not vice versa I.E foxhunting and the SNP
-Reduce the centralisation of power with less reliance on London for the rest of England
-Show clear expression to English identity and interests (being more right wing compared to Scotland/Wales)
-Devolution has worked well elsewhere
-There’s support for the idea: in November 2014 Tory MP Andrew Rosindell posed a PMB outlining a federal UK structure, with support from John Redwood then 1922 committee chair and other MPs from other parties

Question 19

Give arguments against an English Parliament?

Answer 19

-English Parliament would dominate economically and by population
-England lacks cohesive identity found in Wales and Scotland
-There would be arguments over its location
-There would be further bureaucracy and cost required for this institution
-The lack of debate about English matters (which makes up the bulk of Westminster time) would risk undermining Westminster’s role
-It could weaken the Union as there’s no danger in England leaving, unlike Scotland, Wales and NI
-There’s not much public interest in an English Parliament or devolution (NE referendum rejected 78-22% a regional assembly for that area)

Question 20

How has devolution impacted the British constitution?

Answer 20

Parliamentary sovereignty has been reduced - under the Scotland Act (2016) Westminster can’t legislate in devolved matters without consent

Question 21

In what event was devolution most obvious?

Answer 21

Covid-19 - with different policies followed by the devolved governments and Westminster

Question 22

Give an example of the different approaches during Covid-19?

Answer 22

-England, 6 people could meet up outdoors
-Scotland, 8 from two different households
-Wales, unlimited from two households
-Northern Ireland, 4-6 from different households

Question 23

Give another example of devolved differences during Covid-19?

Answer 23

-England, primary schools reopened 1st June 2020
-Scotland, schools reopened 31st August 2020
-Wales, September 2020
-Northern Ireland, September 2020

Question 24

In respect to elections, how has devolution altered the constitution?

Answer 24

By bringing in alternative voting systems - which has led to a rise in coalitions across the regiond