Democracy: Power

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

• Scottish Parliament: devolved parliament set up to form legislation for Scotland domestic affairs.
• Scottish Parliament - Scottish Issues
• Scottish powers limited - cannot deal with reserved powers

Question 2

Public Order - Devolved Power

Answer 2

• Offensive behaviours at football and threatening and hateful - including singing and chanting.
• Introducing Public Order - police and prosecutors stronger powers - range from $40 fine to 5 years in prison - SNP invested £9million to 44 community groups.
• Success: 83% of cases led to convictions in the first 10 months (55 cases).

However,
•criticised by those in football.

• Debate in Scottish Parliament where MSP’s voted against it.
• Previously passed by majority government - lost gov. confidence SNP majority.

Question 3

Foreign Policy - Reserved Power

Answer 3

• Scottish Parliament debate about foreign policy but cannot legislate them.
• For example, debate about the Iraq War (2003) even though no direct responsibility for defence or forge in affairs.
• Scottish government could not do anything still took a vote - majority of MSPs voted not to go to war - but this did not matter Westminster went ahead.
• More recently, June 2016 the Brexit election caused tension between Scotland and the UK - drew attention to reserved powers.
• Majority of Scotland voted to stay, 62% - Majority of UK population voted to leave.
• FM powerless to intervene - threatened to call a second independence referendum.

However,
•Only Westminster has to power to award this - the PM has made it clear to deny this.

Question 4

Education: Devolved Power

Answer 4

• Scottish Parliament debate about foreign policy but cannot legislate them.
• For example, debate about the Iraq War (2003) even though no direct responsibility for defence or forge in affairs.
• Scottish government could not do anything still took a vote - majority of MSPs voted not to go to war - but this did not matter Westminster went ahead.
• More recently, June 2016 the Brexit election caused tension between Scotland and the UK - drew attention to reserved powers.
• Majority of Scotland voted to stay, 62% - Majority of UK population voted to leave.
• FM powerless to intervene - threatened to call a second independence referendum.

However,
•Only Westminster has to power to award this - the PM has made it clear to deny this.

Question 5

Asylum Seekers: Devolved Power

Answer 5

• Before closure campaigns against Dungavel called for Scottish government close it or speak out against it.
• For example, when power used by Westminster - Precious Mhango held in Dungavel Detention Centre after their visa has run out.
• They faced deportation on instruction from UK Home Office.
• Locals campaigned release - SNP politician Anne McLaughlin wrote to Home Secretary feared for childs safety.

However,
•Home Secretary refused to help.

•Scottish Parliament could not help due to being a resolved power - Westminster had all the power eventually shitting down the Dungavel for good.

However,
•Immigration clearly UK issue still implications in Scotland.

•For example, children of asylum seeking families go to Scottish local authority schools.