3.1.1.5 devolution Flashcards
devolution
The transfer of politcal power, but not from sovereignty, from central government to subnational government
primary legislative power
authority to make laws on devolved policy areas
when were devolved institutions established?
1999 but pressure had been building since 1970s
what did the scotland act 1998 do?
-gave the scottish parlaiment primary legislative powers in the range of policy areas, including law and order, health, education, transport, the environment and economic development.
-westminster no longer made laws for scotland on these matters.
major powers of scotland, 2017
-income tax rates and other specified taxes
-health and social services
-abortion law
-all level of education
-economic development
-transport
-justice systems
-elections
major powers of wales, 2017
-welsh rate of income tax
-health and social services
-all levels of education
-elections
-economic development
-transport
-local government
-housing
major powers of northern ireland, 2017
-corporation tax
-health and social services
-all levels of education
-economic development
-environment
-housing
-local government
-justice systems
scotland act 1998
-tax-varying power: it could alter the rate of income tax by 3%
scotland act 2012
-tax varying powers: scotland could set income tax higher or lower
scotland act 2016
compete control over income tax and gave them 50% of the VAT revenue. gave them control of around £15 billion
reserved powers given by the scotland act 1998
-uk constitution
-defence and national security
-foreign policy
-fiscal, economic, monetary systems
-common market for british goods and services
-employment legislation
-social security (however a few powers were devolved to N ireland and scotland)
-broadcasting
-nationality and immigration
-nuclear energy
what does the scotland 2016 act state?
-westminster will not legislate on devolved matters without consent
-the scottish parliament and government are ‘a permanent part of the united kingdom’s constitutional arrangements’
-the scottish parliament and governemt cannot be abolished unless approved by a referendum in scotland
when did a independence refernsum for scotland come into the agenda?
SNP’s landslide victory in the 2011 scottish parlaiment election
who typically voted for independence?
-men, the working class and those under 55
the scotland act 2016 details
-the power to set income tax rates and bands
-some additional taxes and duties including air passenger duty
-the right to recieve 50% of VAT raised in scotland
-control over certain welfare benefits
-road signs and speed limits
-the franchise for scottish parliament
-rail franchises
-onshore gas and oil extraction
how often are elections held?
4 years but this was extended to every 5 years after the wales act 2014
when did the welsh government become known as the welsh assembly
2011
wales act 2017
-gave primary legislative powers
-established the assembly and the welsh government as a permanent feature of the uk constitution. Subject of 2000 and to rename itself the Welsh parliament
-reserved powers similar to those of scotland
government of wales act 2006
Enable the assembly to ask for further powers to be transferred from Westminster and allowed to gain primary legislative powers if approved in a referendum. The 2011 referendum resulted in a 64% yes vote.
wales act 2014
-Put to place the first tranche of Silk’s proposals by devolving control of landfill tax and stamp duty.
-Newly devolved matters will include assembly and local government elections cracking row franchising and road speed limits. The Welsh government wanted policy in injustice to be developed ,but the UK government did not agree to it
nationalists
an adherent of a political position in Northern Ireland who supports constitutional means of achieving improved rights fro catholics and the eventual incorporation of the six counties of northern ireland into the republic of ireland
unionists
an adherent of a political position in Northern Ireland who supports the continued union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Four differences between politics and government
-communal conflict
-distinctive party system
-security
-seperate systems of government
the good friday agreement
It estab lished power-sharing devolution and required the UK and Irish governments to amend their constitutions to clarify the status of NI
power-sharing devolution
a form of devolution in which special arrangements ensure that both communities in a divided society are represented in the executive and assent to legislation on sensitive issues
English votes for English Laws
special procedures in the house of commons fro dealing with legislation that effects only england
Arguments in favour of an english parliament
-it would complete devolution within the Uk, and resolve the english question, by giving england its own parliament
-it would create a more coherent system of devolution, with a federal UK parliament and government responsible for UK-wide issues - rather than, at present, these combined with english issues
-it would give political and institutional expression to english identity and interests.
Arguments against the creation of an english parliament
-It would create an additional layer of government and create tensions between the UK governement and an English parliament and government
-‘devolution all round’ would not create a coherent system because england is much bigger than the other nations of the union
-there is only limited support in england for english parlaiment
west lothian question
should scottish MPs be able to vote on english matters devolved to the scottish parlaiment
Arguments in favour of devolution to the english regions
-it was British and making close to the people and address the different interests of the English regions
-it would create balance devolution settlement within the UK because England is too large to have its own Parliament
-It would enhance democracy as regional assemblies will take over the functions of an elected quangos
-Areas such as Cornwall, Yorkshire and the north-east have a strong sense of regional identity
-Regional assemblies could act as a catalyst for economic and cultural regeneration
Arguments against the creation of regional assemblies
-few areas of England have a strong sense of regional identity
-it would break Ireland and failed to provide expression of English interests and identity
-there will be tensions between regional and local government
-regional leaders would be dominated by urban rather than rural interests
-there is little public support for creating a regional layer of government in England.
structure of local government in 2017
-55 unitary authorites
-27 county councils
-201 district councils
-36 metropolitian borough councils
unitary authorities
responsible for a full range of local services
county council
responsible for some local services (education, social services, policing and transport) in the shires
district councils
responsible for local services (housing, leisure and refuse collection) in the shires
metropolitian borough councils
respinsible for a full range of local services in urban areas
greater london authority
-has strategic responsibilty for economic development, transport, planning and policing.
-it consists of a directly elected mayor and a 25-member London assembly
-the mayor sets the budget and determines policy for the authority
-the main mayoral inititative was the congestion charge, introduced in 2003.
local authorities are responsible fomany services including:
-education
-social services
-housing
-roads and public transport
-planning
-environmental health
-lesuire services
quasi-federal
one in which the central government of a unitary state devolves some of its powers to subnational government
main features of a quasi-federal state
-limited parliamentary sovereignty
-quasi-federal parliament
-joint ministerial committee
-supreme court
quasi-federal state
Westminster operates as an English parliament in the sense that it makes domestic law in England but it’s federal parliament for Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland because it retains reserve powers on major UK wide matter
