chapter 4 Devolution
- Created by: loupardoe
- Created on: 08-05-18 08:42
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what is devolution?
- devolution- transfer of policy making powers from the centre to subordinate subnational institutions, while the state wide legislature retains ultimate authority
- devolution in the UK- asymmetric; each of the devolved institutions has different powers and distinctive features; process rather than a one off event
- most powerful- Scottish Parliament; primary legislative powers and tax raising powers
origins of devolution
- 1999- devolved institutions established in Scotland and Wales
- pressure for devolution had been building since the 1970s- discontent with the UK political system, revival of national cultures, growth of Scottish and Welsh nationalism
- SNP and Plaid Cymru made electoral breakthroughs at Westminster
- James Callaghan's Labour government responded by holding referendums on the creation of legislative assemvlies in Scotland and Wales
- 1979- Welsh referendum produced a decisive 'no'; 20% backed an assembly
- Scotland- 52% of those who voted supported devolution
- Westminster had stipulated that a Scottish assembly would not be created unless it was supported by 40% of the Scottish electorate
- only 37% of the electorate turned out to vote yes
- demands for devolution in Scotland re-emerged during Thatcher/Major's government
- labour and lib dems supported devolution
- the blair government held referendums in Scotland and Wales to approve its policy on devolution
- Scotland- voters were asked whether they supported a scottish parliament and tax varying powers for the parliament; 74.3% supported a Scottish parliament; 63.5% supported tax-varying powers
- wales- 50.3% voted yes to a Welsh assembly on a turnout of 50.1%
- much of western wales supported devolution but eastern wales did not
the scottish parliament and government
- 129 members elected by the additional member system
- 73 are elected in single member constituencies using FPTP
- 56 are additional members chosen from party lists
- 8 multi member regions
- each elects 7 members using the regional list system of PR
- seats are allocated to parties on a corrective basis- the distribution of seats reflects the share of the vote won by the parties
- Scottish government- draws up policy proposals and implements legislation
- first minister- heads the government, appoints the cabinet
- 1999-2007- labour in coalition with the Lib Dems
- 2007-present- SNP has been the governing party
- 2014- Nicola Sturgeon replaced Alex Salmond as SNP leader/ first minister
devolved powers
- Scotland Act 1998- gave the Scottish Parliament primary legislative powers in a range of policy areas
- westminster no longer makes law for Scotland on these matters
- tax- income tax rates and bands; other specified taxes and duties e.g. air passenger duty, landfill tax, stamp duty
- health and social policy- health service, social services, some welfare benefits, abortion law
- environment etc- agriculture and fisheries, economic development, environment, housing, local government, planning, transport, onshore gas and oil protection
- education and culture- primary and secondary education, university education, culture and language, sport, tourism
- law and home affairs- justice, police, prisons, elections
- Scotland Act 1998- gave the Scottish Parliament tax varying powers
- could raise or lower the rate of income tax in Scotland by up to 3%
- these powers have not been used
- Scotland Act 2012- gave the Scottish Parliament…
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