Timeline of Devolution
1979 → Referendum on Scottish Devolution fails to reach the threshold of 40% of the
electorate approving
1997 →Scotland - a referendum on devolution passes with a comfortable majority
1998 →NI - The Belfast Agreement is approved in a referendum, the Northern Ireland Act is
passed granting devolution, first elections to the NI Assembly
1999 →The Welsh Assembly is elected and holds its first meetings
2002 →The NI Assembly is suspended, central government takes over in the province
2007 →NI devolved government is restored
2014 →Scotland → A referendum on full independence is defeated by 55% to 45%
2015 →Wales →The UK gov announces the government of Wales may be given future
powers over a proportion of income tax raised in the country without the approval of a
referendum, despite this requirement existing in previous legislation
2016 →The Scotland Act grants wide-ranging financial powers to the Scottish government,
including control over income tax rates
2017 →Wales →The Government of Wales Act passes, which devolved greater political,
administrative and fiscal powers to the Welsh Assembly
2017 →In Jan, government in NI collapses as power sharing breaks down
2020 →The government of NI is restored in January following agreement between Sinn Fein
and the DUP
1979 → Referendum on Scottish Devolution fails to reach the threshold of 40% of the
electorate approving
1997 →Scotland - a referendum on devolution passes with a comfortable majority
1998 →NI - The Belfast Agreement is approved in a referendum, the Northern Ireland Act is
passed granting devolution, first elections to the NI Assembly
1999 →The Welsh Assembly is elected and holds its first meetings
2002 →The NI Assembly is suspended, central government takes over in the province
2007 →NI devolved government is restored
2014 →Scotland → A referendum on full independence is defeated by 55% to 45%
2015 →Wales →The UK gov announces the government of Wales may be given future
powers over a proportion of income tax raised in the country without the approval of a
referendum, despite this requirement existing in previous legislation
2016 →The Scotland Act grants wide-ranging financial powers to the Scottish government,
including control over income tax rates
2017 →Wales →The Government of Wales Act passes, which devolved greater political,
administrative and fiscal powers to the Welsh Assembly
2017 →In Jan, government in NI collapses as power sharing breaks down
2020 →The government of NI is restored in January following agreement between Sinn Fein
and the DUP
