Powers of Parliament Flashcards
Powers of Parliament Structure
Introduction Education Health Tax Move onto reserved (Linking Sentence) Defence (Trident) Foreign Policy (Brexit) Conclusion
Powers of Parliament Introduction
- Devolution is delegation of power from central body (Westminster) to local body (Holyrood)
- Means decisions can be made closer to the source of impact
- Devolved powers given to SP include health, education.
- Reserved powers controlled by UK Parliament, include defence, immigration, foreign policy.
- Scotland Act 2016 also gave SP additional powers in matters such as income tax, abortion law and benefits
Education
K - Powers not limited in this department as devolved and
SP have made significant changed to education
system such as abolishing tuition fees to reduce
inequalities.
- Recent PISA figures show that Scotland leads UK in
English and maths
- SG have put £750m into attainment fund
- Hope by doing this that 20% of university students will
soon be 20% of most deprived
An - However, these policies not entirely successful
- Sutton Trust say there is no evidence that getting rid
of tuition fees increases the likelihood of deprived
going to university
- The Scottish Government also admit that there is no
guarantee for closing the attainment gap by 2021
Ev- Therefore, the SG is not limited in this matter at all
and are able to make changed to education which is
the SNP’s priority.
Health
K - Another devolved power and SP have made many
new laws and decisions in this matter.
- In 2016, the SNP pledged to increase NHS budget by
£500m and also increase the numbers of doctors and
nurses
- They did this to address Scotland’s great health
inequalities as Scotland is known as the ‘sick man of
Europe’
- For example, a man born in Scotland on average lives
2 years shorter than man born in England.
An - A very successful use of their power was the
smoking ban where Scotland were the first country
to implement it.
- In 2007 when first implemented, there were 10.1m
smokers. In decade, reduced by 20% to all time low
of 8.3m
Ev - Not limited and used to reduce health inequalities
Tax
K - SP has tax increasing powers since 1999 but Scotland
Act 2016 introduced new rates and bands.
- This means that people in Scotland pay different tax
from the rest of the UK.
- The Scottish government claim that 70% of people will
pay less tax, especially those who earn less than
£33000.
- The top 30% of earners who earn over £44724 will pay
more tax.
An - Intends to make the tax system fairer.
- The government can use the extra revenue to invest
into other devolved issues. An example is that they
used the extra taxation to absorb the bedroom tax.
- Also means more people would be able to keep
more of their income, reducing poverty.
- However, there have been criticisms from business
leaders to the finance minister claiming that it will
deter businesses from operating in Scotland, leaving
less jobs and hurting Scottish economy.
Ev - They are not limited in this area at all and have used
their powers to fund flagship programmes such as
the Baby Box and improve living standards
Defence
K - This is a reserved matter that is controlled in
Westminster
- Trident is country’s nuclear submarine system that is
located in Faslane naval base near Glasgow
- The Scottish Parliament and many Scottish people are
against the nuclear weapons as billions are being
spent on upgrading something that may never be used
mean while poverty rates are soaring.
An - The Scottish Government have voted against it but
because the UK Government are in favour for it, it
stays in Scotland.
- Additionally, British opinion still favours it as well.
Ev - Even though Trident costs Scotland money and is
located in Scotland, the Scottish government have
no say in it what so ever and their powers are
greatly limited.
Foreign Policy
K - Another reserved matter
- The issue of Brexit is causing constitutional tension
between Scotland and rest of UK
- This is because 62% of Scots voted remain, but
because the rest of the UK voted to leave, we leave
with them
- Many argue that Scotland is being ‘forced’ to leave
An - The SP have voiced their opinion over this matter by
debating the issue and also threatening
independence.
- However, the decisions over Brexit are ultimately
made in London.
Ev - Therefore, Scotland are powerless in this matter and
even threats of independence don’t work as that is a
constitutional matter, so permission would have to be
granted by Westminster as well.
Powers of Parliament Conclusion
- Their powers are not limited in devolved issues
- Devolution allows Scottish Parliament to create ‘Scottish solutions to Scottish problems’
- Powers extended with Scotland Act 2016 and have allowed them to create solutions such as the Best Start Grant
- Their powers are very limited in reserved
- Frustration over lack of power furthers cause for independence.
