Devolution Flashcards

1
Q

Define devolution

A

Transfer of political power from central gov

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2
Q

Primary legislative power

A

Authority to make laws on devolved policy areas

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3
Q

Which is the most powerful devolved institution

A

Scottish Parliament

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4
Q

What primary powers does the Scottish Parliament have

A

Law making in devolved matters and tax raising powers

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5
Q

What did wales gain after the 2011 referendum

A

Primary legislative authority

Gained tax powers under wales act 2017

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6
Q

What prompted the growth of nationalism in wales and Scotland

A

Revival of national cultures

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7
Q

Which parties made electoral breakthrough in Westminster

A

SNP and Plaid Cymru

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8
Q

Which prime minister responded to the growth in nationalism

A
James Callaghan(1976-79) 
Held referendums
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9
Q

What was the result of the 1979 Welsh referendum

A

No- only 20% backed an assembly

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10
Q

What was the result of the 1979 Scottish referendum

A

52% supported devolution

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11
Q

Why was a Scottish assembly not created even though the vote ‘yes’ got 52%

A

Gov said 40% of the Scottish electorate had to vote yes

Only 33%

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12
Q

Which government after Callaghan held more referendums to approve policy for devolution

A

Blair gov

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13
Q

What were voters asked in the Blair referendums

A

If they supported a Scottish Parliament+ tax varying powers

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14
Q

What % of people supported a Scottish Parliament

A

74.3%

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15
Q

What % of people supported tax varying powers for the Scottish Parliament

A

63.5%

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16
Q

What % of people supported a welsh assembly

A

50.3% (turnout of 50.2%)

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17
Q

How many members does the Scottish Parliament have

A

129

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18
Q

What system is used to elect Scottish MPs

A

Additional members system

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19
Q

How many MSP are elected in single member constituencies using the FPTP

A

73 MSPs- 57% of total

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20
Q

How many MSP are elected using AMS

A
  1. (43%)
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21
Q

What is used to elect the Northern Ireland assembly

A

Single transferable vote

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22
Q

Scotland Act 1998

A

Scottish Parliament got primary legislative powers in law,health,education,transport,environment and economic development

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23
Q

How much could the Scottish Parliament raise tax by?

A

3%

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24
Q

Scotland Act 2012

A

Scottish Parliament has power to Scottish rate of income tax higher or lower than rest if uk

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25
Q

Scotland Act 2016

A

Gave Scottish Parliament 50% of VAT revenue in Scotland

Had control of £15 billion

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26
Q

Name some powers ‘reserved’ to Westminster

A

Constitution
Foreign policy
Defence and national security

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27
Q

What does the 2016 Scotland Act state about Westminster’s involvement in devolved powers

A

Not legislate on devolved matters without consent
SP ‘permanent part of UK constitutional arrangement’
Can’t be abolished unless approved in referendum in Scotland

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28
Q

What was the SNP campaigning on in the independence referendum in 2014

A

Own written constitution+ responsibility for welfare, foreign+defence policy
Queen remain head of state

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29
Q

Who supported the pro union campaign

A

Lab, cons and Lib Dem’s

Called better together

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30
Q

What did the pro union campaign argue

A

That Scot enjoyed extensive devolution + benefits of union

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31
Q

When was the Scottish referendum held

A

18th September 2014

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32
Q

What was the result of the 2014 Scottish referendum

A
  1. 3% no

44. 7% yes (1.6 mill)

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33
Q

Turnout Scottish referendum

A

84.5%

34
Q

What demographic votes for leave in the independence referendum

A
Men more likely to vote for independence 
Working class more likely independence+ aged under 55
35
Q

What welfare benefits did Scotland get in the 2016 Act

A

Disability living allowance
‘Bedroom tax’
Personal independence payment

36
Q

When are election held in wales

A

Was every 4 now every 5 due to wales act

37
Q

Who’s been in power in the welsh assembly

A

Labour, alone or in coalition

38
Q

What did the government of wales act 2006 enable

A

Ask for more power from Westminster, allowed it to have primary legislative power if vote yes in a referendum

39
Q

The 2011 welsh referendum result

A

64% yes

Support for independence is only 10%

40
Q

What Commission was set up to consider transferring more powers to the welsh assembly

A

Silk commission

41
Q

What did the 2017 welsh act create related to tax

A

Control over a portion (10p in the pound)

42
Q

What did wales want devolved but Westminster didn’t agree

A

Policing and justice

43
Q

Describe communal conflict in Northern Ireland

A

Unionists and nationalists

Nationalist=greater role in for RoI affairs in NI

44
Q

What religion do unionists tend to be

A

Protestant

45
Q

What % of catholics made up the Protestant population

A

45% in 2011

46
Q

Describe the distinctive party system in Northern Ireland

A

Elections between union+national
Main issue is constitutional status
Other parties don’t field candidates

47
Q

Describe security in Northern Ireland

A

IRA cease fire but other republican groups still active

48
Q

Describe Northern Ireland’s separate system of government

A

1922-1972 only part of uk to have own Parliament

Devolution in NI designed so U+N parties share power

49
Q

Good Friday Agreement

A

1998
Established power sharing devolution
Constitution amended to establish position of NI

50
Q

How many members are in the Northern Ireland Assembly

A

108 members

51
Q

How are Northern Ireland assembly members elected

A

Single transferable vote

52
Q

Ahead of the 2020 election, the number of members in the NI assembly is to be cut to what?

A

90

53
Q

What powers does the NI assembly have

A

Primary legislative

Not major tax raising powers

54
Q

What tax power was devolved to NI in 2015

A

Corporation tax

55
Q

Who is the minister in NI

A

Leader of the biggest oarty

56
Q

How are ministerial posts allocated in NI assembly

A

Proportionally according to party strength

57
Q

Which two parties in Northern Ireland have shared power since 2007

A

DUP and Sinn Fèin

58
Q

When did the NI assembly collapse

A

2017

Sinn Fein refused to nominate new deputy first minister

59
Q

What three solutions have been suggested over how England should be governed

A

English Parliament
English vote for English laws
Elected regional assemblies

60
Q

Arguments for having an English Parliament

A

Complete uk devolution
More coherent system of devolution
Political and institutional expression to English identity and interests

61
Q

Arguments against the creation of an English Parliament

A

Additional layer of gov-tension wi English Parliament+ uk gov
Wouldn’t create coherent system as England way bigger
Limited support for it

62
Q

% of people in England who think UK Parliament would be good- (British social attitudes)

A

50% in 2015

63
Q

% of people in England who think regional assemblies would be good (British social attitudes survey)

A

22% 2015

64
Q

% of people in England who think English Parliament would be good (British social attitudes survey)

A

20% 2015

65
Q

What is the West Lothian question?

A

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?

66
Q

Who raised the West Lothian question

A
Tam Dalyell (was labour MP for West Lothian) 
Raised during devolution debates in 1970s
67
Q

Give an example of a piece of legislation that only passed due to Scottish MPs voting

A

Foundation hospitals

University tuition fees

68
Q

What did Scottish MPs argue in relation to voting on English matters

A

bills included clauses relating to Scotland

Changes to public spending in England would affect spending in Scotland

69
Q

Which party argues for EVEL

A

Cons

70
Q

EVEL

A

Special procedures in HoC for dealing with legislation that affects only England

71
Q

What Commission was set up to examine the issue of EVEL

A

McKay commission

72
Q

Which government introduced the McKay commission

A

Cons-lib dem coalition

73
Q

In 2013 what did the McKay commission recommend

A

Parliamentary procedures are adopted so majority of English MPs needed to pass leg that only effects England

74
Q

When did MPs vote to amend standing orders of the House of Commons to introduce EVEL

A

October 2015

75
Q

What did the new procedures provide in Parliament for English bills

A

‘Double veto’

Bills said to be England only by the speaker are considered by grand committee where they can be vetoed

76
Q

What do critics argue about EVEL in regards to MPs

A

Creates new classes of MPs

77
Q

Why does EVEL pose s problem within the commons

A

Difficult for Parliament with small majority

6/19 govs elected since 1945 have had enough MPs from England to have a majority

78
Q

Which government planned to create a directly elected regional assemblies

A

Blair

79
Q

Why were Blair’s plans for regional assemblies dropped

A

78% voted no 2004 on should their be an assembly in North East England

80
Q

What were some of the arguments in favour of devolution to English regions

A

Decision making closer to people
Areas e.g cornwall have strong regional identity
Balanced devolution settlement

81
Q

What were some of the arguments in against devolution to English regions

A

Would break up England
Tension regional+local gov
Little public support

82
Q

In regards to English devolution what do labour and conservatives now support

A

Exec devolution, some functions transferred

No law making power+no elected assemblies