What Powers does the Scottish Parliament have

1
What Powers does the Scottish Parliament have?
2
Devolved Powers

• The Scottish Parliament and executive were given
  some powers that were previously controlled by
  the government in London
• The powers it gave to the Scottish Parliament
  when it was set up were called devolved powers

3
What devolved powers do we have?

• Health
• Education and Training
• Local government
• Some Transport
• Law
• Police/Fire service
• Economic development
• Environment
• Sports and arts
• Agriculture, forestry and fishing

4
What devolved powers do we have?

• TaxThe Scottish Parliament can increase or
  decrease the basic rate of tax by 3p in the pound

5
Choose one of the following examples of changes
the Scottish Parliament has made and investigate
further

• Free personal care for elderly
• McCrone report
• Antisocial behaviour
• No upfront tuition fees
• Ban on smoking in public places
• Golden Jubilee Hospital to reduce waiting lists
  for heart surgery
• Free bus travel for elderly

6
Reserved powers

• However the London Parliament kept the power to
  make laws about certain things, these were called
  reserved powers

7
Reserved Powers

• Foreign affairs
• Defence and National security
• Tax
• Economic policy
• Social security
• Immigration
• Drug control
• Guns and weapons
• Abortion
• Gambling/lottery

8
Jack McConnell

• will not attempt to speak for Scotland on defence
  issues, which are reserved to Westminster.
• Keen not to get involved in debates about the war
  in Iraq

9
Things the Parliament has been unable to do

• Immigration issues
• 2003 opposition MSPs attempted to have the
  detention centre in Dungavel closed down
• asylum seekers housed and attend schools in
  Scotland

• Vucaj family from Albania settled in Glasgow but
  in 2005 the family were deported
• The scottish executive cannot change the law but
  it was agreed that local authorities in the
  future would be informed in advance of
  deportations

10
Discussion

• Why does an issue, such as immigration, cross
  over the responsibilities of both Scottish and UK
  government?
• Should the Vucaj family been allowed to stay?
  why./why not?
• Should immigration be devolved?

11
Sewel convention

• Lord Sewels ruling in the Scotland act stated
  that
• there will be instances where it would be
  convenient for legislation on devolved matters to
  be passed by the UK parliament
• 61 occasions e.g. tobacco advertising, legal
  rights of gay couples

12
Activity

• Go to http//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4229855.
  stm
• Find out about the Sewel convention and when it
  has been used
• Does it give us the 'Best of both worlds?

Sewel Motions have prompted great debate in the
parliament
13

• Answer the following question using the previous
  slides and notes
• Describe the powers of the Scottish Parliament?