Devolution. Flashcards
What term did professor Vernon Bogdanor coin to describe the characteristics of devolution in a the UK?
A quasi-federal state.
The main features of quasi-federalism within British politics include….
.Limited parliamentary sovereignty, In theory Westminster remains sovereign as it can overrule or abolish the devolved bodies, Westminster is no longer sovereign over the domestic policies of Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
What did the Scotland act of 2016 establish?
That Westminster cannot legislate over the devolved bodies without their consent whilst also recognising the devolved bodies had permanent features of British politics.
How does Westminster act as a quasi federal parliament for England ?
Westminster acts as the de facto English parliament in the sense that it makes domestic law in England, but also acts as the federal parliament for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland because it retains powers on major UK issues.
What is Joint Ministerial committee?
UK ministers and their counterparts form the devolved bodies meet to discuss non-devolved matters which impinge on devolved issues such as Brexit to resolve disputes.
Give an example of where English and Scottish domestic diverge from one another as a result of devolution.
In England tuition fees for university students were introduced under David Cameron’s government whereas in Scotland no tuition fee is required for Scottish students studying in Scottish Universities.
How are the programs of devolved bodies public spending funded?
The devolved governments are funded through block grants from the British treasury, the size of these grants are determined using what is known as the Barnett formula wherein the English public spending is converted into the equivalent needed for the block grants if Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
How is the devolved parliament in Northern Ireland unique?
Between 1922 and 1972 Northern Ireland was the only part of the UK to operate under it’s own parliament, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland also held significant policy making powers. Devolved in Northern Ireland is unique as it is designed to allow the Nationalists and Unionists to share power.
