uk gov Flashcards
what is EVEL?
West Lothian question ‘why should Scottish MPs be able to vote on English matters in parliament that don’t affect their constituents, whilst English MPs cannot do the same in Scottish Parliament?’
introduced 2013, grand committee stage was added in which English MPs can veto a bill if only effects England, however bills must pass in whole house at third reading
Barnett formula
under Barnett formula for deciding on levels of public spending, England receives less per person than other parts of the UK
what was 2016 Scotland Act?
ability to set income tax rates and bands, control over key welfare benefits e.g. disability living allowance, right to 50% of all VAT raised in Scotland
economic problems of Welsh valleys
17% of adults on benefits compared with national figure of 11%
parliaments acts 1911 and 1949
preventing lords veto legislation, only allowing to delay for two parliamentary sessions
any lords amendments that are rejected three times by commons become ineffective e.g. 2012, Lords returned welfare reform act to commons with seven amendments, all were defeated
no jurisdiction over financial matters, not allowed to interfere with money bills,
salisbury convention
Lords won’t delay or block any legislation that was included in a governments manifesto
however, under coalition, the coalition agreement was not a manifesto so the lords was more obstructive
select committees
the commons select committees have grown in influence and authority, since 2010, they have become more effective in scrutinising government departments.
e.g. health committee brought about changes to the coalition’s health and social care bill
consist of backbench MPs, no departmental select committees in the Lords
House of Lords act 1999
ended the right of all but 92 hereditary peers to sit in the lords, which used to be dominated by hereditary peers, others appointed on the grounds of merit
cross benchers
play important role in holding government to account, neutral figure so more likely to assess a bill on its merit and decide accordingly
main functions of parliament
passing legislation: most important function
parliamentary scrutiny: responsibility to exercise oversight of the executive’s actions, hold government to account and expose its errors
providing ministers: prime minister elects from parliament
representing electorate: commons elected house, Lords representative as it contains people with a wide range of professional backgrounds
EVEL scrapped
abolished July 2021 Michael gove said it had ‘not served our parliament well’
SNP argued it created a second class of MPs who couldn’t take part in all votes, and argued certain laws had knock on effects for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
whip system
generally ensures that almost all bills which the government wants to pass through parliament will do as such
‘payroll votes’ government essentially ‘buys’ significant support by giving backbenchers ministerial role
party discipline
ensures loyalty, principle of collective ministerial responsibility, no minister can be publicly seen to disagree with the government
examples of historically significant private members bill?
1967 abortion act
what is 10-minute rule?
allows MPs to speak for 10 minutes on their chosen subject before the beginning of official business on certain days
what is adjournment debate?
after the official business of the house is over, there is an opportunity to raise an issue and a minister will reply
what are public bill committees?
give MPs an opportunity to propose amendments to legislation and each clause of bill is scrutinised
what are select committees?
consisting of backbench MPs, select committees in the commons investigate and report on the activities of government departments, their counterparts in the lords carry out topic-based inquires
examples of select committee influence on government policy?
2014 the home office took the passport office back under ministerial control, following a critical report by the home affairs select committee
chief executive of the passport office had been criticised for a large backlog in applications which caused public anger during the summer
example of successful chair of select committee?
Margaret hodge, chair of public accounts select committee from 2010 to 2015 said she had more influence in this role than as a government minister earlier in her career
example of select committees holding ministers to account?
home affairs committee question former Home Secretary amber Rudd in 2018, she denied knowledge that the home office has set migrant removal targets, which conflicted with evidence provided in a previous statement heard by the committee
divisions within May’s party
labour claimed ‘most divided ever’
over 100 tory MPs criticised government of colleagues
SNP using allocated days?
allocated in November 2015 to instigate debates on the trident nuclear defence system to which they are strongly opposed and on the closer of the HMRC offices
2022 spring statement
home owners - no VAT applied to energy saving materials including solar panels, heat pumps and insulation
employers - increase employment allowance for small businesses, allowing them to reduce national insurance bills by up to £5000 a year
minimal measurements to tackle cost of living crisis (UK to see biggest fall in living standards since records began)
