Devolution Flashcards
Define devolution
Transfer of political power from central gov
Primary legislative power
Authority to make laws on devolved policy areas
Which is the most powerful devolved institution
Scottish Parliament
What primary powers does the Scottish Parliament have
Law making in devolved matters and tax raising powers
What did wales gain after the 2011 referendum
Primary legislative authority
Gained tax powers under wales act 2017
What prompted the growth of nationalism in wales and Scotland
Revival of national cultures
Which parties made electoral breakthrough in Westminster
SNP and Plaid Cymru
Which prime minister responded to the growth in nationalism
James Callaghan(1976-79) Held referendums
What was the result of the 1979 Welsh referendum
No- only 20% backed an assembly
What was the result of the 1979 Scottish referendum
52% supported devolution
Why was a Scottish assembly not created even though the vote ‘yes’ got 52%
Gov said 40% of the Scottish electorate had to vote yes
Only 33%
Which government after Callaghan held more referendums to approve policy for devolution
Blair gov
What were voters asked in the Blair referendums
If they supported a Scottish Parliament+ tax varying powers
What % of people supported a Scottish Parliament
74.3%
What % of people supported tax varying powers for the Scottish Parliament
63.5%
What % of people supported a welsh assembly
50.3% (turnout of 50.2%)
How many members does the Scottish Parliament have
129
What system is used to elect Scottish MPs
Additional members system
How many MSP are elected in single member constituencies using the FPTP
73 MSPs- 57% of total
How many MSP are elected using AMS
- (43%)
What is used to elect the Northern Ireland assembly
Single transferable vote
Scotland Act 1998
Scottish Parliament got primary legislative powers in law,health,education,transport,environment and economic development
How much could the Scottish Parliament raise tax by?
3%
Scotland Act 2012
Scottish Parliament has power to Scottish rate of income tax higher or lower than rest if uk
Scotland Act 2016
Gave Scottish Parliament 50% of VAT revenue in Scotland
Had control of £15 billion
Name some powers ‘reserved’ to Westminster
Constitution
Foreign policy
Defence and national security
What does the 2016 Scotland Act state about Westminster’s involvement in devolved powers
Not legislate on devolved matters without consent
SP ‘permanent part of UK constitutional arrangement’
Can’t be abolished unless approved in referendum in Scotland
What was the SNP campaigning on in the independence referendum in 2014
Own written constitution+ responsibility for welfare, foreign+defence policy
Queen remain head of state
Who supported the pro union campaign
Lab, cons and Lib Dem’s
Called better together
What did the pro union campaign argue
That Scot enjoyed extensive devolution + benefits of union
When was the Scottish referendum held
18th September 2014
What was the result of the 2014 Scottish referendum
- 3% no
44. 7% yes (1.6 mill)
Turnout Scottish referendum
84.5%
What demographic votes for leave in the independence referendum
Men more likely to vote for independence Working class more likely independence+ aged under 55
What welfare benefits did Scotland get in the 2016 Act
Disability living allowance
‘Bedroom tax’
Personal independence payment
When are election held in wales
Was every 4 now every 5 due to wales act
Who’s been in power in the welsh assembly
Labour, alone or in coalition
What did the government of wales act 2006 enable
Ask for more power from Westminster, allowed it to have primary legislative power if vote yes in a referendum
The 2011 welsh referendum result
64% yes
Support for independence is only 10%
What Commission was set up to consider transferring more powers to the welsh assembly
Silk commission
What did the 2017 welsh act create related to tax
Control over a portion (10p in the pound)
What did wales want devolved but Westminster didn’t agree
Policing and justice
Describe communal conflict in Northern Ireland
Unionists and nationalists
Nationalist=greater role in for RoI affairs in NI
What religion do unionists tend to be
Protestant
What % of catholics made up the Protestant population
45% in 2011
Describe the distinctive party system in Northern Ireland
Elections between union+national
Main issue is constitutional status
Other parties don’t field candidates
Describe security in Northern Ireland
IRA cease fire but other republican groups still active
Describe Northern Ireland’s separate system of government
1922-1972 only part of uk to have own Parliament
Devolution in NI designed so U+N parties share power
Good Friday Agreement
1998
Established power sharing devolution
Constitution amended to establish position of NI
How many members are in the Northern Ireland Assembly
108 members
How are Northern Ireland assembly members elected
Single transferable vote
Ahead of the 2020 election, the number of members in the NI assembly is to be cut to what?
90
What powers does the NI assembly have
Primary legislative
Not major tax raising powers
What tax power was devolved to NI in 2015
Corporation tax
Who is the minister in NI
Leader of the biggest oarty
How are ministerial posts allocated in NI assembly
Proportionally according to party strength
Which two parties in Northern Ireland have shared power since 2007
DUP and Sinn Fèin
When did the NI assembly collapse
2017
Sinn Fein refused to nominate new deputy first minister
What three solutions have been suggested over how England should be governed
English Parliament
English vote for English laws
Elected regional assemblies
Arguments for having an English Parliament
Complete uk devolution
More coherent system of devolution
Political and institutional expression to English identity and interests
Arguments against the creation of an English Parliament
Additional layer of gov-tension wi English Parliament+ uk gov
Wouldn’t create coherent system as England way bigger
Limited support for it
% of people in England who think UK Parliament would be good- (British social attitudes)
50% in 2015
% of people in England who think regional assemblies would be good (British social attitudes survey)
22% 2015
% of people in England who think English Parliament would be good (British social attitudes survey)
20% 2015
What is the West Lothian question?
Why should Scottish MPs be able to vote on English matters at Westminster when English MPs cannot vote on matters devolved to the Scottish Parliament?
Who raised the West Lothian question
Tam Dalyell (was labour MP for West Lothian) Raised during devolution debates in 1970s
Give an example of a piece of legislation that only passed due to Scottish MPs voting
Foundation hospitals
University tuition fees
What did Scottish MPs argue in relation to voting on English matters
bills included clauses relating to Scotland
Changes to public spending in England would affect spending in Scotland
Which party argues for EVEL
Cons
EVEL
Special procedures in HoC for dealing with legislation that affects only England
What Commission was set up to examine the issue of EVEL
McKay commission
Which government introduced the McKay commission
Cons-lib dem coalition
In 2013 what did the McKay commission recommend
Parliamentary procedures are adopted so majority of English MPs needed to pass leg that only effects England
When did MPs vote to amend standing orders of the House of Commons to introduce EVEL
October 2015
What did the new procedures provide in Parliament for English bills
‘Double veto’
Bills said to be England only by the speaker are considered by grand committee where they can be vetoed
What do critics argue about EVEL in regards to MPs
Creates new classes of MPs
Why does EVEL pose s problem within the commons
Difficult for Parliament with small majority
6/19 govs elected since 1945 have had enough MPs from England to have a majority
Which government planned to create a directly elected regional assemblies
Blair
Why were Blair’s plans for regional assemblies dropped
78% voted no 2004 on should their be an assembly in North East England
What were some of the arguments in favour of devolution to English regions
Decision making closer to people
Areas e.g cornwall have strong regional identity
Balanced devolution settlement
What were some of the arguments in against devolution to English regions
Would break up England
Tension regional+local gov
Little public support
In regards to English devolution what do labour and conservatives now support
Exec devolution, some functions transferred
No law making power+no elected assemblies
