9: Devolution

Question 1

What is devolution?

Answer 1

Since 1998 powers have been devolved from the centre in Westminster to the constituent parts of the UK

Question 2

Devolution in Scotland

Answer 2

-Scottish parliament established in 1999
-129 elected members
-Controls education, environment, transport
-Excludes defence, international affairs
-Following Scottish Referendum in 2014 Scottish Parliament has power to raise taxes
-2017 announced new income taxbrates different to the rest of UK

Question 3

Devolution in Wales

Answer 3

Welsh Assembly established in 1999
-60 elected members
-Determines budget priorities, administers NHS.
-Has tax raising power but has never used it
-Excludes defence, international affairs
-2020 became the Welsh Parliament

Question 4

Northern Ireland

Answer 4

-Northern Irish Assembly established 1998
-90 elected member
-Powers similar to Wales
-No tax raising power
-Excludes defence, international affairs, raising new taxes.

Question 5

Devolution in England

Answer 5

Plans for elected regional assemblies in England were dropped after voters in the north east rejected the idea in a 2004 referendum
-2014 proposed the northern powerhouse in the north of england to boost economic growth championed by Chancellor George Osborne.
Greater Manchester wsa the first.
Nine other regions have devolution deals and seven held ‘metro mayor’ elections : Liverpool City Region, Tees Valley, West of England, West Midlands, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, North of Tyne, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, North East, West Yorkshire.

Question 6

What is the West Lothian Question?

Answer 6

The argument that it is unfair for Scottish MPs in Westminster to vote on issues about England while English MPs have no say over issues particular to Scotland decided in the Scottish parliament and welsh and northern irish assemblies.

Question 7

Scottish Independence?

Answer 7

In a 2014 referendum the Scottish Nationalist Party asked ‘do you agree that Scotland shoud be an independent country?
about 44% voted yes and 55% no
In the run up to the vote all three party leaders signed the vow to give scotland more powers and retain the Barnett Formula

Question 8

What is the Barnett Formula

Answer 8

Gives Scotland £1,600 more per head to spend than England

Question 9

What is English Votes for English Laws?

Answer 9

The conservatives announced plans in 2015 to create a grand committee of English MPs that would have a veto on English-only laws.
Repealed in July 2021.