chapter 4 Devolution

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  • Created by: loupardoe
  • Created on: 08-05-18 08:42

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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