Devolved Power in the UK (AQA GCSE Citizenship Studies): Revision Note

An introduction to devolution in the UK

• Devolution involves the transfer of power and decision-making from central government to regional and local bodies

  • This process has aimed to make government more responsive to local needs

• Greater powers have been given to devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

• English regions have also gained more power through directly elected mayors and combined authorities

Devolved power in Scotland

• Scotland has a Scottish Parliament with extensive law-making powers

• It also has limited tax-raising powers, making it one of the most devolved parts of the UK

• The Scottish Parliament sits in Edinburgh, in the Scottish Parliament Building at Holyrood

  It is made up of 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), who are elected to represent people across Scotland

Devolved powers

• The Scottish Parliament controls:

  • Justice and policing

  • Social security

  • Health and education

  • Local and national elections

  • Equal opportunities

  • Abortion law

• It also has powers over certain taxes and economic issues, including:

  • Stamp Duty

  • Landfill tax

  • Air Passenger Duty

  • Onshore oil and gas extraction

Local government

• Scotland has 32 single-tier councils

  • These organisations, such as Glasgow City Council, provide all local services

• Scotland also has community councils.

  • These are similar to parish councils but are mainly advisory with limited legal powers

Devolved power in Wales

• Wales has a devolved parliament called the Senedd

• It can legislate on any issue not specifically reserved to the UK Parliament

  • This brought Wales in line with Scotland and Northern Ireland

• The Welsh Parliament sits in Cardiff

• It is made up of 60 Members of the Senedd (MSs), who are elected to represent people across Wales

Devolved powers

• The Senedd has powers over:

  • Health, education and transport

  • Welsh language policy

  • Road signs and speed limits

  • Welsh elections

  • Equal opportunities

• It also has powers over:

  • Onshore oil and gas

  • Landfill tax

  • Stamp Duty

Local government

• Wales has 22 unitary authorities, such as Cardiff City Council

• Below this are around 730 community and town councils

  • These have a similar role to parish councils in England

Devolved power in Northern Ireland

• Northern Ireland has a high level of devolution, including areas not devolved elsewhere

• It has a devolved Assembly with law-making powers

  • The Assembly must operate as a multi-party power-sharing government

• The Northern Ireland Assembly sits at Stormont in Belfast

• It is made up of 90 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), who are elected to represent people across Northern Ireland

Devolved powers

• The Assembly has powers over:

  • Justice and policing

  • Employment law

  • Social security and child support

  • Energy policy

  • Charity law

  • Equal opportunities

  • Air Passenger Duty

Local government

• There are 11 unitary district councils

  • These councils, such as Belfast City Council, provide local services such as planning, waste and leisure

Devolved power in England

• England does not have its own devolved parliament or assembly

  • The UK Parliament at Westminster makes laws for England as well as the whole UK

Regional and local powers

• Strategic Mayoral Authorities (Combined Authorities) operate in some English regions

  • They have powers over transport, housing, economic development and skills

• Police and emergency services

  • Police forces operate regionally and are now increasingly overseen by directly elected mayors

• Health

  • The NHS in England is managed nationally but delivered locally through NHS bodies

• Local government

  • England has unitary authorities, which provide all local services in their area.

  • Below this level are town and parish councils, which deal with very local issues