Roles, Powers + Responsibilities Of Devolved Bodies Flashcards
What is the devolution in the UK
-is decentralisation of power
-delegation of some governmental powers away from parliament to the regions e.g. Scotland, wales + NI
-reserved powers — certain policy matters like trade, defence + foreign policy retained by Westminster
-parliament retains sovereignty - unitary system powers devolved can be taken back
-unlike US with federal system + states sovereign give power to central govt
What is the devolution of Scotland
-129 MSP’s elected with AMS
-Scottish parliament 3 types devolved power — administrative, legislative + fiscal
What is the devolution legislation of Scotland
-referendum 1997 — 2 key questions should Scot have devolution? Should it have tax-varying powers?
-Scotland act 1998 — gave scot parl (legislative body est after 1997 referendum) primary legislative powers in so,e do,estimate areas incl. law + order, health, transport + education
-Scot act 2012 — transferred tax raising powers + scot rate income tact + devolved stamps duty + landfill taxes
-Scot act 2016 — powers Holyrood parl incl. authority on equal opportunities, abortion laws + speed limits + could create income tact rates across any bands + make own law for who votes
What are the issues for the devolution of Scotland
-West Lothian question — scot MPs continue vote on bills affecting Eng only in Westminster e.g. top up fees law in Eng with help scot MPs but in scot tuition fees rejected
-legitimacy of devolved parl — only 44.7% of eligible backed devolution + 2003 turnout election only 49% but 2021 significant improvement as turnout reached 63.5%
What is the devolution for wales
-1997 referendum — legislative body + executive established + 50.3% voted yes to devolved assembly
-welsh assembly has administrative + some legal powers but no financial powers
What is the devolution legislation for wales
-govt wales act 1998 — set up Welsh assembly which lacked primary legislative body powers but could devise secondary legislation specified areas incl. agri + education
-govt wales act 2006 — enabled assembly request further powers for, west,instead + gain primary legislative powers if approved by referendum also set up proper executive body
-2011 referendum — gained power enact primary legislation 20 devolved areas of policy incl. health, transport + age also delivered resounding yes vote 64% showed support grown since 97
-wales act 2017 — greater primary legislative powers incl. control over own electoral system
What are the issues with Welsh devolution
-the nationalist party — Plaid Cymru divided over issue of independence
-number Plaid Cymru assembly members dropped from 17 1999 to 13 2021
-only 47% eligible electorate vote in 2021 assembly elections raised questions about legitimacy
What is the devolution of Northern Ireland
-Good Friday agreement 1998 — est NI devolved govt
-assembly consists 90 members elected by STV system
-jan 2017-Jan 2020 NI assembly suspended due to policy disagreements between power sharing executive
-administrative + some financial powers but not primary legislation powers
-it took place against backdrop period of sectarian violence between loyalists/unionists + republican/nationalist paramilitaries
-since 1972 Ni governed direct rule Westminster after stormont suspended for discrimination to nationalist minority + abolished 1973
What was the Good Friday agreement 1998
-promise of return to devolved govt
-had to be approved with referendum may 1998 + approved by 71%-29%
-NI assemb,t + executive
What were the issues with the devolution of Northern Ireland
-75% NI population supported GFA, 96% catholics supported + 52% Protestants voted for it
-until 2020 assembly suspended also in 2000 when FM Paisley rejected sharing power with Sinn Fein due to IRA connection
-long term issue — rapid growth catholic pop in NI which change demographic + political picture in future
-IRA’s history involvement in violence complicates power sharing with Sinn Fein
How do the devolved powers deal with certain issues: tax
-Scotland - income tax rates, bands + other specified taxes + duties e.g. stamp duty
-Welsh - Welsh rate income tax
-NI - corporation tax
How do the devolved powers deal with certain issues: health + social policy
-Scotland - health + social services, some welfare benefits + abortion law
-Welsh - health + social services
-NI - health + social services + some welfare services
How did the devolved powers deal with certain issues: environment
-Scotland - agriculture + fisheries, economic development, housing, local govt, planning, transport + oil extraction
-Welsh + NI - all of the above
