devolution and the decentralisation of power

Unit 1

Government, policies and the public services

View this in slide show now.

• The aim of this session is to enable you to understand the different levels of government in the UK.

• The objective is that upon completion of this session you will have studied:– Devolution of power:

• Devolved Parliaments

• Full details can be found on page 6, table 1.2 of the course book.

Devolution• Power is devolved to

national parliaments or assemblies:– The Scottish Parliament at

Edinburgh– The Welsh Assembly in

Cardiff– The Northern Ireland

Assembly in Belfast

• With London these are the capitals of the countries that make up Great Britain.

CENTRAL - Westminster

Monarchy

House of Commons

House of Lords

Branches of government

REGIONAL

Devolved parliaments

Devolution

Devolution - The Scottish Parliament

• Established by the Scotland Act 1998 through referendum.

• Deals with devolved matters:– Education– Health– Civil and criminal law– Environment– Housing– Local government


• Self contained – it can pass laws without authorisation from the UK Parliament.

• UK Parliament has reserved power:– It still has jurisdiction on matters that affect the UK as

a whole or an international impact.• Around 130 elected members of the Scottish

Parliament.• The most representatives form the government

called the Scottish Executive.• MSPs vote on issues that effect the UK but not

the other way round.


• Follow this link for more information on the Scottish Parliament:

• http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/home.htm

• And page 6, table 1.2 of the course book.• Click this link for a virtual tour of the

Scottish Parliament:• http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/

nmCentre/images/360_tour/chamber.htm

Devolution – The Welsh Assembly

• Established by the Government of Wales Act 1998 through referendum.

• Has around 60 elected Assembly members.

• The leader (First Minister) is elected by the Assembly.

• Unlike Scotland, Wales is subject to English law.

Devolution – The Welsh Assembly

• For a more information on the Welsh Assembly click here:

• http://new.wales.gov.uk/?lang=en• Follow this link for a virtual tour of the Welsh

Assembly:• http://www.thinkinteractive.co.uk/Java/

wag_chamber.html• Also see page 6, table 1.2 of the course book.

Devolution – The Northern Ireland Assembly

• Created by the Northern Ireland Act 1998 by referendum.

• Around 108 elected members.

• Its First Minister is elected by the Assembly.

Devolution – The Northern Ireland Assembly

• Follow this link to find out more information about the Northern Ireland Assembly:

• http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/• Click this link to have a virtual tour around

the Northern Ireland Assemble in Stormont, Belfast.

• http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/vtour/vtour_index.htm

• Also see page 6, table 1.2 of the course book.

Devolution

• The advantages and disadvantages of devolution are shown on page 5, table 1.1 of the course book. You can use this information for D1.

• Locate it now.

The current UK flag

Summary

• In this session we have investigated:– Devolution and decentralisation of power.– The Scottish Parliament– The Welsh Assembly– The Northern Ireland Assembly

Task

• Lets look at how we can use this information to help us complete our assignment.

Look forward

• Our next session will focus on:• The European Union.