1. Evaluate the view that devolution has been good for Wales and Scotland but
not for England and Northern Ireland.
AGREE DISAGREE
Successful in Scotland… Unsuccessful in Scotland…
- 74% of the Scottish voted in favour of devolution, - the promise of further devolution to Scotland was
meaning that they were given the most devolved likely a deciding factor of people voting against
powers under the Scotland Act (1998). This included Independence.
a Scottish Parliament with 129 members, elected by - Westminster still has considerable effect in Scotland;
AMS. many feel that they were affected by the ‘tyranny of the
- they were given legislative powers in many areas, majority’ after the Brexit result.
such as health and education, giving it equal footing - Section 28(7) of the Scotland Act (1998) gave
to Westminster. Westminster (in theory) the power to legislate on
- under the Scotland Act of 2016, the Parliament was Scottish matters.
given further legislative powers (e.g in abortion law), - Scotland was unable to enforce its Gender Reform
as well as administrative powers being extended to Bill, after Westminster declared that a Scottish GRC
areas such as housing, and the power to vary holder would officially have a different sex in Scotland
income tax rates up to 10p of the pound (up from compared to the rest of the UK, having an adverse
3p), and control of half the VAT collected in effect on areas beyond equalities law, e.g the
Scotland. administration of reserved taxes, benefits and state
- Scotland has been able to adopt a different political pensions, which are managed by IT systems only
ideology to England, which became increasingly allowing for one sex to be recorded. Whilst 'equalities
apparent between 2010-24 when England elected a and opportunities' is a reserved matter, 'health and
right-winged conservative government, whilst social services' is a devolved matter- the GRC bill
Scotland elected the left of centre SNP. The Green causes overlap between these two matters. Scotland
party is also far more significant in Scotland. This is attempted to reform the 2004 Gender Recognition Act,
reflected in the policies of Scotland, such as free uni however Westminster argued that its jurisdiction took
tuition and prescriptions. precedent
Successful in Wales… Unsuccessful in Wales…
- after a third devolution referendum in Wales (4 - both the turnout (50%) and votes in favour (50.5%)
March 2011), the Silk Commission was established were lower in Wales than Scotland in the Welsh
to consider further Welsh devolution. As a result, the Devolution Referendum. This therefore meant that
Government of Wales Act (2014) decided there they were given no legislative or financial powers and
should be a referendum to decide whether Wales less administrative powers (only extended to areas
should take control of spending a proportion of such as agriculture).
income tax, though in 2015 it was decided that the - under the Government of Wales Act (2014) there
assembly should of control of up to £6 million in were no further additions to legislative and
income tax, as well as the control of other taxes, e.g administrative devolution.
business tax.
- the Government of Wales Act (2017) gave the Successful in England…
confirmation of fiscal measures, e.g the ability to - London mayors were introduced in 2000 and were
vary income tax up to 10p of the pound. It also able to introduce legislation, such as the Ultra Low
transferred administrative and legislative Emission Zone (ULEZ), which will force drivers of
responsibility to more areas, e.g energy efficiency. It polluting vehicles which breach its limits to pay a daily
also created the Welsh Parliament (renamed from fee of £12.50.
Assembly), which is now known as the Senedd - Greater Manchester is given control of a £6 billion
Cymru (May 2020). health and social care budget; they essentially created
- Similarly to Scotland, devolution has allowed for their own NHS, which meant more funding.
more progressive politics as well as a forum for - the mayoral system has been able to scrutinise
Welsh nationalism under Plaid Cymru. Ideas such as Westminster, for instance in 2020 Andy Burnham
free school breakfasts and the banning of smoking in (Manchester) challenged the government when they
