Devolution

Question 1

What is devolution

Answer 1

Transfer of power from the centralised power in Westminster to local government

Question 2

Why has UK devolution been described as asymmetrical

Answer 2

devolution in Scotland is far further along than in England. Within England devolution is also unequal. Greater Manchester and the Greater Manchester authority has had far more devolution than the east of England which has had little devolution

Question 3

What did the the Scotland act of 1998 do (what powers were transfered)

Answer 3

This created a unicameral legislature with 129 seats. The MSP proceede to nominate a first minister who chairs and appoints the Scottish cabinet.

Some powers have been reserved by UK government and the rest of the powers have not been devolved such as education, transport and the national healthcare service

Question 4

What is the Sewell convention

Answer 4

If parliament would like to legislate in the UK the area which is not reserved to parliament then a ‘legislative consent motion’ is passed in the devolved assembly or parliament

Question 5

What did the 2012 and 2016 Scotland act do

Answer 5

2012- ability to raise income tax and other tax by £.10p in the £1.

2016- further financial policy which recognised the Sewell convention

Question 6

What did the 1998 govt of Wales act do

Answer 6

Gave the Welsh assembly which it created and enabled it to create secondary legislation.

(Secondary legalisation- how legalisation is then enacted in an area)

Question 7

What did the 2016 govt of Wales act do

Answer 7

2014- tax policy such as stamp duty

2016- changed from conferred powers (shared) to reserved powers (where some are devolved and some are reserved to Westminster)

Question 8

What is the difference between conferred and reserved powers

Answer 8

Conferred- areas of legislation are shared with both devolved govt and Westminster

Reserved- still held by Westminster and not devolved

Question 9

What did the 1998 NI act do

Answer 9

‘goof Friday agreement’

created stormont

transport, education and healthcare

Question 10

What powers does the Northern Ireland assembly have

Answer 10

Some reserved and others are fully transferred

Question 11

How are the first and deputy ministers appointed (for NI)

Answer 11

The largest party elects a first minster and then the second largest party appoints a deputy first minister. They both have equal powers

Question 12

How are other positions in the NI executive allocated

Answer 12

Chosen by first minister

Question 13

How are the positions in the Northern Ireland assembly allocated

Answer 13

allocated by using the D’Hont formula

Question 14

How does the NI assembly ensure that key decisions have both nationalist and unionist support

Answer 14

A first minister and a deputy first minister representing both groups

Question 15

What is the Barnett formula used for

Answer 15

to give same per capita spending on infrastructure to those in devolved and those in non devolved areas.

Question 16

How does the Barnett formula work

Answer 16

The change in spending on a dept is multiplied by the extent of devolution in that area (as a % share in the economic cost) which is then multiplied by the share of population and then multiplied by the total level of funding which is devolved overall

Question 17

What are controversial interpretations of the barnett formula

Answer 17

-Extra given to NI in exchange for the DUP’s confidence and supply with the Thersa May government

-Spending on London Olympics was considered UK wide spending even tho it was only in London and on London transport infrastructure and regeneration.

• HS2- no money for Wales as heavy rail infrastructre hasn’t been devolved. Other regions have had increase infrastructure where Wales hasn’t.

Question 18

The barnett formula is used only to adjust block grants- what is the advantages of this?

Answer 18

The money can be spent on whatever

also a simple process which allows for key share in extra money.

No negotiations are needed and is a standard process.

Question 19

Why foes the barrett formula result in unequal per capita spending across the UL

Answer 19

Barnett formula locks in the unequal spending between the regions.

Barnett formula therefore perpetuates unequal per capita spending

Populations in Scotland has decreased so funding per capita has increased

Poor regions of England have ended up with lower levels of spending

Question 20

The barnett formula was intended to be temporary however it has remained in place- why is this?

Answer 20

• was made to accommodate how regional governments should be funded with referendums in play

-Renegotiating would have winners and loosers

• politically challenging to do and it could increase discussion on independence.
• A review in Wales has concluded that the facilitation of services are more expensive so the welsh govt would receive no less than 115% of spending in England

Question 21

Why were labours plans for regional assemblies scrapped

Answer 21

Huge margins of rejections for regional assemblies in offering regional assemblies in the North of England

Question 22

How did new labour devolve power to London

Answer 22

The Greater London authority accepted by the London population after the 1998 referendum. Mayor was given and this enabled tfl, services and regional promotion ability.

Question 23

What are combined authorities

Answer 23

Unitary councils combine to form a unitary authority with a mayor. This is what happened in Greater Manchester.

Question 24

What are devolution deals

Answer 24

Government legalisation handing power to more local stakeholders

Often these deals came with conditions like a mayor.

Question 25

What is the West Lothian question

Answer 25

Should English MP’s only decide on English issues as many bills are voted on by non English MP’s.

Question 26

What were the ‘English votes for English laws’ rules and did they answer the ‘West Lothian question

Answer 26

When a piece of leglisation only affected England and not other regions.

The speaker would determine a grand legislative committee which would scrutinise the parts of the bill only affecting England.

this was abolished in 2021 as it undermined the core principle that all MP’s should be equal

Question 27

How did R (miller) v Secretary of State for exiting the EU (2017) highlight the limits of the Sewell convention

Answer 27

Miller argued that the consent of a devolved government has to be given to create legislation in that area as per the Sewell convention which had been recognised in Law

SC ruled that this is a convention which is not a statute.

Question 28

What is the UK internal market

Answer 28

Market of UK countries

Mutual recognition- any good that means the standards of one part of the Kingdom must meet another

Question 29

What is the NI protocol

Answer 29

NI follows EU laws and has to conduct product checks on all goods which enter from Britain

This did create an Irish border with the UK which further separated Ireland with the rest of the UL

Question 30

Why and how did the pandemic expose voters to the extent of devolution since 1999

Answer 30

Devolved governments need to protect their constituents. Lots of powers the govt was exercising has been devolved and there was separation of responsibility.

Devolution did allow for regional govt to create more tailored response to the pandemic.

Question 31

What confusion resulted in the UK govt’s ‘dual roles’

Answer 31

Ministers lacked clarity on there powers with which they had

Devolution allowed to response to be more tailored and for alternative response.

Question 32

How did COVID 19 highlight the devolved bodies financial dependance on Westminster

Answer 32

Much spending on uk NHS and other Covid responses was divided using the Barnet formula but this limited how proactive the devolved govts could be so the treasury devolved set funding such that they could be proactive.

Question 33

How did the pandemic highlight the limits of English devolution

Answer 33

metro mayors were vocal critics

Andy Burnham was very critical of the govt

while regional first ministers were given time with the PM other regional representatives were not and regional voices weren’t heard

Question 34

join ministerial committee

Answer 34

consultative group used to inform ministers if incoming changes

Question 35

Has devolution Improved political representation, accountability, and the perceived legitimacy of government

Answer 35

Yes
devolved bodies have more collaborative and responsible govt

formal and informal deals function well
No

NI still has low trust in the establishment and has repeatedly collapsed

Question 36

Has devolution led to improved economic profomance, better public services and more successful policies

Answer 36

Yes
test out policies in smaller areas before rolling out such as free prescriptions

Wales was the first to charge for plastic bags

congestion charge through ULEZ

No
Welsh education is far worse than rest of the nation

Question 37

Has devolution unified the UK and strengthen support for the constition

Answer 37

Yes
- more time for people in motions to have their voices heard
- greater represertnaion of the people

No
- greater calls for independence
- gender recognition in Scotland was struck down by UK govt

Question 38

What alternatives have been proposed to the current devolution settlements

Answer 38

inderpendance of NI and Scotland

growth of the SNP in recent years has shown this.