Chapter 10 - The Impact of Devolution

Question 1

A new politics

Answer 1

Representation of broader range of society

Greater opportunity for public participation

Question 2

What percentage of women are there in the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly?

Answer 2

35% and 40%

Question 3

Multi Party Politics

Answer 3

AMS system shows much more clearly the presence of multi party politics

Question 4

Minority and coalition governments

Answer 4

Welsh and Scottish Assemblies have produced several complex outcomes (eg 1999 and 2003 Labour-Lib Dem Scot, Lab minority gov 1999 Wales)

Question 5

Policy Divergence

Answer 5

Different policy to Westminster (eg tuition fees and exams)

Question 6

Funding

Answer 6

Block grants are given under the Barnett Formula

Question 7

Intergovernmental relations

Answer 7

Offices for each nation represented at Whitehall

Question 8

What new mechanisms have been set up to handle Intergovernmental relations?

Answer 8

Concordats (set out rules governing relationship)
Joint Ministerial Committee
Supreme Court (for when disputes arise)
British-Irish Council

Question 9

What is the West Lothian Question?

Answer 9

Should there be an English Parliament (should Scottish MPs be allowed to vote on english matters at Westminster when the English can’t vote on devolved Scottish matters?)

Question 10

What 4 main solutions have emerged to the West Lothian Question?

Answer 10

• Elected regional assemblies in England
• Regional select committees at Westminster
• English votes for English laws
• An English Parliament

Question 11

Britishness has…

Answer 11

Arguably been weakened (people now defining themselves more by state not country (eg Scottish not British))