Devolution Flashcards
What are the powers, lack of powers of devolved bodies?
1. Scottish Parliament: Key powers, -Income tax (Scotland Act 2012) -Education -Justice, policing and courts Lack of powers, -Foreign policy -Brexit negotiations -Defence and national security
2. National Assembly for Wales: Key powers, -Education -Health -Transport Lack of powers, -Foreign policy -Brexit negotiations -Defence and national security
3. Northern Ireland Assembly: Key powers, -Education -Heath -Transport Lack of powers, -Income tax -Foreign policy -Brexit negotiations -Defence and national security.
What are the key dates regarding devolution?
- 1997, Blair’s Labour government holds referendum in Scotland and Wales over devolution, both vote in favour (by a small margin in Wales)
- 1998, the Good Friday Agreement leads to a ceasefire and an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland, paving the way for a Northern Ireland Assembly
- 1999, devolved assemblies are set up in Wales and Scotland
- 2011, a referendum in Wales supports the transfer of greater powers (by a large margin 63% to 37%)
- 2012, the Scotland Act devolves tax-raising powers to Scottish Parliament and allows £2 billion to be borrowed per year
- 2014, Scotland rejects full independence (55% to 45%). Wales Act grants more powers to Welsh government including stamp duty, business rates and landfill tax.
- 2016, the Scotland Act devolves further powers including control over road signs power to change its electoral system
- 2017, the Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended due to a breakdown in relations between the two largest parties, the DUP and Sinn Fein, Westminster removed powers. The Wales Act granted further powers to Cardiff, largely similar to those granted to Scotland in 2016, excluding income tax powers.
Local government??
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What are the limits on local government?
- Most revenue raising is tightly controlled by central government.
E.g. council tax cannot be raised beyond limit set by Westminster (5% in 2018) - Most functions that involve carrying out responsibilities and roles are decided by central government.
E.g. ??? - They have limited legislative powers, albeit they can sometimes introduce certain measures.
E.g. congestion charges in London
(helps to reduce traffic)
Should there be an English parliament?
- Yes, it would enable another electoral system to be used, which could the enhance representation of a wider range of English political parties.
E.g. the Liberal Democrats and Scottish Greens have been represented in Scottish Parliament due to the AV voting system despite being small parties.
No, an alternative electoral system such as AV that is used in Scotland would mos probably result in minority government which is not necessarily a positive thing
E.g. 3 of the 6 Scottish Parliamentary elections have resulted in minority governments.
- Yes, it would solve the West Lothian Question.
E.g. Scotland, Wales and Norther Ireland MPs currently have a vote on matters that affect only England, whereas MPs from England are unable to vote on matters that have been devolved.
No, there are other alternatives for solving the West Lothian Question that are less drastic
E.g. parliamentary reforms such as English votes for English laws (EVEL). This would see an extra stage is introduced in the law making process, allowing English MPs to block anything they do not like in bills deemed to be ‘England only’
- Yes, devolution has largely worked well elsewhere in the UK and the devolved assemblies have been given
greater powers since their inception
E.g. the Scotland Act 2012 gave the Scottish Parliament greater powers of taxation, to levy tax by 10 pence per pound
No, unlike other countries in the UK, there is no widespread support for such a measure
E.g. a referendum in 2004 to set up an elected assembly for the northeast was decisively rejected 78% to 22%
How has devolution impacted the UK government
- It is created more variation across the UK.
E.g. university fees are free in Scotland, unlike other countries in Britain - It has reduced the power of Westminster, as many areas of government are now the responsibility of devolved assemblies
E.g. the Scotland Act 2012, as by giving Scottish Parliament the power to vary income tax up or down by 10 pence per pound, it took this power from Westminster. - It has not weakened the concept of Westminster sovereignty as powers are delegated and not inalienably transferred.
E.g. Westminster removed powers from the Northern Irish Assembly from 2017 to 2020 after it collapsed due to policy disagreements between its power-sharing leadership between Sinn Fein and the DUP.
Has devolution been a success?
- No, certain devolved bodies have failed to work effectively
E.g. the Northern Ireland Assembly has struggled to operate effectively as a power-sharing body and deep community divides have meant direct rule from Westminster has often occurred, for much of 2017 and 2018.
Yes, despite this most devolved assemblies have acquired greater powers since their foundation in 1999
E.g. the Scotland Act 2012, granted power to levy tax by 10 pence per pound
E.g. voters have also supported such moves, the 2011 Welsh referendum saw 63% to 37% vote for more devolution
- No, it has made Britain less united and led to inequalities between the regions
E.g. university fees are free for Scottish students, but not for those in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Yes, the assemblies have used their powers to undertake distinctive policies which have benefitted their citizens.
E.g. In Scotland, university was made free in 2008 due to the increasing influence they have in how their taxes are spent.
- No, as arguably it has increased demands for full
independence (at least in Scotland) and could
potentially herald the breakup of the UK
E.g. the Scottish Independence Referendum in 2014 was extremely close, Sturgeon continues to demand a second election
They have arguably strengthened the Union
and reduced calls for independence from most devolved bodies
E.g. in Scotland and Northern Ireland there is less support for nationalist, anti-Britain parties
