Devolution
● Transfer of political, policy-making power (not sovereignty) from central government
to sub-national assemblies or parliaments
● Has been asymmetric: each of the devolved institutions has different powers and
distinctive features
● Has been a process not one-off event
Reasons for Devolution:
● Practical to have national governments that understand local problems better
● Principle of ‘subsidiarity’ - powers can be exercised more effectively at a lower level
of government
● Popular demand (SNP and Plaid Cymru made electoral breakthroughs - revival of
national cultures created a growth in nationalism)
● Prevent break-up of the UK
● Ideological belief
● Principle of self-determination (liberalism)
Origins of the Union:
● Celtic fringe - Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
● Nations bought together by 1536 Act of Union (Wales), 1707 Act of Union (Scotland);
1801 Act of Union (Ireland)
● Union is either - a wonderful expression of a family of nations co-existing, or English
imperialism crushing smaller nations
Devolution in Scotland
● James Callaghan (Labour) passed Scotland Act in 1978 to allow establishment of
Scottish assembly with approval of at least 40% of Scottish electorate. 1979
referendum 51.6% voted in favour but turnout of 64% meant only 32.9% of electorate
voted yes
● Blair's government manifesto pledged to hold referendums on ‘whether to create a
Scottish parliament and if it should have tax-varying powers’. 1997 - 74.5%
supported a Scottish Parliament and 63.5% tax-varying powers.
● 1998 The Scotland Act passed establishing the parliament and executive. 1999, first
election to Parliament and 2004, the building was opened.
● 2012, Scotland Act passed to give further powers e.g., stamp duty, borrowing powers
and power to raise or lower income tax by up to 10p.
● Scottish Independence referendum, 55.5% were against and so Scotland didn’t
leave.
● 2016, further transfer of powers e.g., taxation and welfare, ‘bedroom tax’, road signs
and speed limits, the franchise and gas and oil extraction. Gave Scotland 50% of the
VAT revenue raised in Scotland.
● After Brexit, SNP stepped up campaigns for independence so Scotland could remain
in the EU.
The Scottish Parliament and Government
,Structure Powers Acts Reserved Powers
(limits on Scottish
Parliament’s
legislative powers
established by
Scotland Act 1998)
● Unicamera ● Tax: ● Abolished ● UK
l system income tax upfront constitution
with four rates and tuition fees ● Defence and
elements: bands, air in 1999. In national
petitions, passenger 2008, security
committee duty, graduate ● Foreign
s, landfill tax, endowmen policy,
parliamena stamp duty t was including
ry bureau ● Health and abolished relations with
and Social: and now EU
cross-party health there are ● Fiscal,
groups service, no tuition economic
● 129 social fees and monetary
(MSPs) services, ● Smoking, systems
elected by some Health and ● Common
additional welfare Social market for
member benefits Care Act British goods
system and 2005, and services
● Elections abortion banned ● Social
held every laws smoking in security
5 years ● Environme public (some areas
rather than nt etc: places. devolved)
4 since agriculture This was ● Broadcasting
2011 and later ● Nationality
election fisheries, introduced and
● 73 MSPs economic in England immigration
are elected developme and wales ● Nuclear
in nt, in 2007. energy
single-me environme ● Set a
mber nt, minimum
constituen housing, price for
cies using local alcohol in
FPTP governme 2012 to
● 56 MSPs nt, reduce
(additional planning, cases of
members) transport alcohol
chosen by (speed abuse and
party lists, limits, road related
elected in signs, rail illness, 1st
8 franchises) legally
multi-mem , onshore binding
ber gas and oil minimum
regions extraction price
and seats ● Education within EU
are and ● Scottish
allocated culture: Act is
to parties primary more
, to reflect and progressiv
the share secondary e with
of votes education, stronger
won University, protections
● Labour culture and for
was in language, transgend
coalition sport and er rights
with the tourism e.g., no
Lib dems ● Law and spouse
until 2007 home veto,
affairs: gender
justice, reassignm
police, ent can’t
prisons, be blocked
elections by a
spouse
Westminster retains the right to override the Scottish Parliament in areas of legislative
powers that have been devolved and in theory could abolish the devolved institutions. But
Scotland Act 2016 states:
➔ Westminster can’t legislate on devolved matters without consent
➔ Scottish Parliament and government are ‘a permanent part of the UK’s constitutional
agreement’
➔ Scottish Parliament/government can’t be abolished without approval in a Scottish
referendum
2014 Independence Referendum:
➔ SNP wanted to keep the Queen as head of state and pound as a currency but the
Scots would have its own constitution and full responsibility for welfare, foreign and
defence policy
➔ pro-Union campaign, Better Together, was supported by Labour, Cons and Lib Dems
arguing that Scotland had extensive devolution economically, politically and culturally.
It argued that independence would damage Scottish economy and UK Treasury.
➔ EU Commission warned an independent Scotland wouldn’t immediately become
apart of the EU
➔ Men were more likely to vote yes for independence as were working class and those
aged under 55. Most that identified as Scottish not British voted for independence
➔ SNP and labour voters were more likely to vote yes
The parties vowed to deliver further devolution in the event of ‘no’ for independence and this
lead to the Scotland Act 2016:
➔ The power to set income tax rates and bands
➔ Some additional tax duties
➔ Right to receive 50% of VAT raised in Scotland
➔ Control over certain welfare benefits e.g., housing element of Universal Credit,
Disability Living Allowance
➔ The franchise
Devolution in Wales
● Referendum held in 1997 endorsing for a Welsh assembly by a small majority
, ● Devolution settlement and 1997 referendum gave Welsh government powers over
range of domestic policy areas
● Government of Wales Act 2006 gave it primary legislative powers after 2011
referendum
● 2011 referendum extended power to propose bills in 20 policy areas without consent
from Parliament e.g., on agriculture, transport, health and Welsh Language.
● Initially only had executive and secondary legislative powers ( so only determined
how to implement legislation on Welsh issues passed by Westminster)
● 2011 referendum resulting in 64% yes votes to the question ‘Do you want the
assembly to have full law-making powers in 20 subject areas it has powers for?’
confirmed that devolution is the prefered option for Welsh voters, support for
independence is much lower
● Cons-Lib Dem coalition established Silk Commission to see when further powers to
Wales needed to be transferred
● Wales Act 2017 amends Government of Wales Act 2006 and devolves further powers
● Only a small minority (18%) thought devolution had bought improvements to the NHS
and education in Wales in a survey conducted by Cardiff University
Structure Powers Acts / Future
● Has 60 members ● There has been ● Capacity and
elected by AMS policy divergence: assembly remain
elected every 5 abolition of league relatively static.
years ( 40 elected tables and lower With just 60 AMs
in tuition fees for to hold the
single-members Welsh student government to
constituencies and different type account
using FPTP and of a-levels and a effectively is
20 in 5 more questionable
multi-member citizen-centred ● 2011 (single use
using regional list) and planned carrier bags
● First minister approach to charge
appoints cabinet ( health, patients regulations 2010)
9 members and collecting was very
additional 5 prescriptions are sucessful and is
ministers to not asked to pay. now mirrored in
ensure all ● 2018 - gained other parts of the
devolved areas control over land UK
are represented), transaction tax
chairing cabinet and landfill tax
meetings and and ability to
taking lead in borrow money
policy from major capital
development and projects was
delivery extended
● First minister was
Alun Michael
1999-2000,
morgan
2000-2009,
Carwyn Jones
● Transfer of political, policy-making power (not sovereignty) from central government
to sub-national assemblies or parliaments
● Has been asymmetric: each of the devolved institutions has different powers and
distinctive features
● Has been a process not one-off event
Reasons for Devolution:
● Practical to have national governments that understand local problems better
● Principle of ‘subsidiarity’ - powers can be exercised more effectively at a lower level
of government
● Popular demand (SNP and Plaid Cymru made electoral breakthroughs - revival of
national cultures created a growth in nationalism)
● Prevent break-up of the UK
● Ideological belief
● Principle of self-determination (liberalism)
Origins of the Union:
● Celtic fringe - Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
● Nations bought together by 1536 Act of Union (Wales), 1707 Act of Union (Scotland);
1801 Act of Union (Ireland)
● Union is either - a wonderful expression of a family of nations co-existing, or English
imperialism crushing smaller nations
Devolution in Scotland
● James Callaghan (Labour) passed Scotland Act in 1978 to allow establishment of
Scottish assembly with approval of at least 40% of Scottish electorate. 1979
referendum 51.6% voted in favour but turnout of 64% meant only 32.9% of electorate
voted yes
● Blair's government manifesto pledged to hold referendums on ‘whether to create a
Scottish parliament and if it should have tax-varying powers’. 1997 - 74.5%
supported a Scottish Parliament and 63.5% tax-varying powers.
● 1998 The Scotland Act passed establishing the parliament and executive. 1999, first
election to Parliament and 2004, the building was opened.
● 2012, Scotland Act passed to give further powers e.g., stamp duty, borrowing powers
and power to raise or lower income tax by up to 10p.
● Scottish Independence referendum, 55.5% were against and so Scotland didn’t
leave.
● 2016, further transfer of powers e.g., taxation and welfare, ‘bedroom tax’, road signs
and speed limits, the franchise and gas and oil extraction. Gave Scotland 50% of the
VAT revenue raised in Scotland.
● After Brexit, SNP stepped up campaigns for independence so Scotland could remain
in the EU.
The Scottish Parliament and Government
,Structure Powers Acts Reserved Powers
(limits on Scottish
Parliament’s
legislative powers
established by
Scotland Act 1998)
● Unicamera ● Tax: ● Abolished ● UK
l system income tax upfront constitution
with four rates and tuition fees ● Defence and
elements: bands, air in 1999. In national
petitions, passenger 2008, security
committee duty, graduate ● Foreign
s, landfill tax, endowmen policy,
parliamena stamp duty t was including
ry bureau ● Health and abolished relations with
and Social: and now EU
cross-party health there are ● Fiscal,
groups service, no tuition economic
● 129 social fees and monetary
(MSPs) services, ● Smoking, systems
elected by some Health and ● Common
additional welfare Social market for
member benefits Care Act British goods
system and 2005, and services
● Elections abortion banned ● Social
held every laws smoking in security
5 years ● Environme public (some areas
rather than nt etc: places. devolved)
4 since agriculture This was ● Broadcasting
2011 and later ● Nationality
election fisheries, introduced and
● 73 MSPs economic in England immigration
are elected developme and wales ● Nuclear
in nt, in 2007. energy
single-me environme ● Set a
mber nt, minimum
constituen housing, price for
cies using local alcohol in
FPTP governme 2012 to
● 56 MSPs nt, reduce
(additional planning, cases of
members) transport alcohol
chosen by (speed abuse and
party lists, limits, road related
elected in signs, rail illness, 1st
8 franchises) legally
multi-mem , onshore binding
ber gas and oil minimum
regions extraction price
and seats ● Education within EU
are and ● Scottish
allocated culture: Act is
to parties primary more
, to reflect and progressiv
the share secondary e with
of votes education, stronger
won University, protections
● Labour culture and for
was in language, transgend
coalition sport and er rights
with the tourism e.g., no
Lib dems ● Law and spouse
until 2007 home veto,
affairs: gender
justice, reassignm
police, ent can’t
prisons, be blocked
elections by a
spouse
Westminster retains the right to override the Scottish Parliament in areas of legislative
powers that have been devolved and in theory could abolish the devolved institutions. But
Scotland Act 2016 states:
➔ Westminster can’t legislate on devolved matters without consent
➔ Scottish Parliament and government are ‘a permanent part of the UK’s constitutional
agreement’
➔ Scottish Parliament/government can’t be abolished without approval in a Scottish
referendum
2014 Independence Referendum:
➔ SNP wanted to keep the Queen as head of state and pound as a currency but the
Scots would have its own constitution and full responsibility for welfare, foreign and
defence policy
➔ pro-Union campaign, Better Together, was supported by Labour, Cons and Lib Dems
arguing that Scotland had extensive devolution economically, politically and culturally.
It argued that independence would damage Scottish economy and UK Treasury.
➔ EU Commission warned an independent Scotland wouldn’t immediately become
apart of the EU
➔ Men were more likely to vote yes for independence as were working class and those
aged under 55. Most that identified as Scottish not British voted for independence
➔ SNP and labour voters were more likely to vote yes
The parties vowed to deliver further devolution in the event of ‘no’ for independence and this
lead to the Scotland Act 2016:
➔ The power to set income tax rates and bands
➔ Some additional tax duties
➔ Right to receive 50% of VAT raised in Scotland
➔ Control over certain welfare benefits e.g., housing element of Universal Credit,
Disability Living Allowance
➔ The franchise
Devolution in Wales
● Referendum held in 1997 endorsing for a Welsh assembly by a small majority
, ● Devolution settlement and 1997 referendum gave Welsh government powers over
range of domestic policy areas
● Government of Wales Act 2006 gave it primary legislative powers after 2011
referendum
● 2011 referendum extended power to propose bills in 20 policy areas without consent
from Parliament e.g., on agriculture, transport, health and Welsh Language.
● Initially only had executive and secondary legislative powers ( so only determined
how to implement legislation on Welsh issues passed by Westminster)
● 2011 referendum resulting in 64% yes votes to the question ‘Do you want the
assembly to have full law-making powers in 20 subject areas it has powers for?’
confirmed that devolution is the prefered option for Welsh voters, support for
independence is much lower
● Cons-Lib Dem coalition established Silk Commission to see when further powers to
Wales needed to be transferred
● Wales Act 2017 amends Government of Wales Act 2006 and devolves further powers
● Only a small minority (18%) thought devolution had bought improvements to the NHS
and education in Wales in a survey conducted by Cardiff University
Structure Powers Acts / Future
● Has 60 members ● There has been ● Capacity and
elected by AMS policy divergence: assembly remain
elected every 5 abolition of league relatively static.
years ( 40 elected tables and lower With just 60 AMs
in tuition fees for to hold the
single-members Welsh student government to
constituencies and different type account
using FPTP and of a-levels and a effectively is
20 in 5 more questionable
multi-member citizen-centred ● 2011 (single use
using regional list) and planned carrier bags
● First minister approach to charge
appoints cabinet ( health, patients regulations 2010)
9 members and collecting was very
additional 5 prescriptions are sucessful and is
ministers to not asked to pay. now mirrored in
ensure all ● 2018 - gained other parts of the
devolved areas control over land UK
are represented), transaction tax
chairing cabinet and landfill tax
meetings and and ability to
taking lead in borrow money
policy from major capital
development and projects was
delivery extended
● First minister was
Alun Michael
1999-2000,
morgan
2000-2009,
Carwyn Jones
