DEVOLOUTION
Key Topics:
What is Devolution?
What are the powers of the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and Norther Ireland
Assembly?
What is the ‘English Question’ and how might it be answered?
What have been the implications of devolution for UK politics?
What is devolution?
Devolution: The transfer of political power, but not sovereignty, from the
central government to subnational government
Primary legislative power: Authority to make laws on devolved policy
areas
Nationalism: A political ideology/movement that regards the nation as the
main form of political community and believes that nations should be self-
governing
While devolution transfers power-making powers, ultimate sovereignty still remains
with the state-wide legislature.
→Devolution has been asymmetric – different powers and distinct features
→Devolution has been a process – not a one-off event
The Scottish Parliament is the most powerful devolved power. It has primary
legislative powers – responsibility for law-making in devolved matters, and tax-
raising powers.
The Welsh Assembly initially only had executive powers, determining how
Westminster legislation is implemented in Wales. After the 2011 referendum, it
gained primary legislative powers in devolved powers. (Set to gain tax-raising
powers in Wales Act 2017)
The Northern Ireland Assembly has primary legislative powers, with limited
powers over tax.
Origins of devolution:
→The pressure for devolution in 1970s came due to a rise in Scottish and Welsh
nationalism
1
Key Topics:
What is Devolution?
What are the powers of the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and Norther Ireland
Assembly?
What is the ‘English Question’ and how might it be answered?
What have been the implications of devolution for UK politics?
What is devolution?
Devolution: The transfer of political power, but not sovereignty, from the
central government to subnational government
Primary legislative power: Authority to make laws on devolved policy
areas
Nationalism: A political ideology/movement that regards the nation as the
main form of political community and believes that nations should be self-
governing
While devolution transfers power-making powers, ultimate sovereignty still remains
with the state-wide legislature.
→Devolution has been asymmetric – different powers and distinct features
→Devolution has been a process – not a one-off event
The Scottish Parliament is the most powerful devolved power. It has primary
legislative powers – responsibility for law-making in devolved matters, and tax-
raising powers.
The Welsh Assembly initially only had executive powers, determining how
Westminster legislation is implemented in Wales. After the 2011 referendum, it
gained primary legislative powers in devolved powers. (Set to gain tax-raising
powers in Wales Act 2017)
The Northern Ireland Assembly has primary legislative powers, with limited
powers over tax.
Origins of devolution:
→The pressure for devolution in 1970s came due to a rise in Scottish and Welsh
nationalism
1
