Arguments FOR and AGAINST devolution

MAKES GOVERNMENT MORE EFFICIENT

• government would become more efficient and effective as each country would deal with its own issues and could concentrate its work accordingly.
• this would have a positive impact on central government as it would not be burdened with so much work and could concentrate on the bigger nation issues
• its time would not be taken up with decisions that would only effect a certain region

BETTER SERVE PEOPLES LOYALTIES

• Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own distinctive cultures which are not shared elsewhere in the UK
• to expect the people who live in these regions to accept laws and decisions made in Westminster is wrong and irrational

ARGUMENTS FOR DEVOLUTION IN SCOTLAND

• London is physically remote from Scotland
• Scotland have particular economic needs that are not met by UK policy
• Scotland wants higher levels of welfare services which they should implement and bear the additional costs themselves

COST OF ESTABLISHING A NEW TIER

• the cost of establishing something that is already done in London would be too much
• too much money for what you get in the end result

INCREASES DIFFICULTIES OF ADMINISTRATION

• requires extra staff
• extra paperwork
• everything would have to go through another set of people
• would be inefficient and expensive

EXTRA TIERS MAY LEAD TO INCREASED DELAYS

• can cause problems with decisions that are wanted by regions but no supported by central government
• confusion as nobody knows who to go to when there is a problem

LACK OF REGIONAL EXPERIENCE

• lack of experience could lead to delays
• central government has decades of experience in decision making, but a new government would not
• more confusion as there are more layers of government

FIRST STEP TO COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE

• devolution would cause the break up of the UK and more/complete independence
• could cause other places to want more power for themselves