starter activity

1
? starter activity
The Scottish Parliament cost 400m of taxpayers
money. It went 10 times over budget. It still
needs constant maintenance and repairs. Why did
New Labour think we needed devolved assemblies?
2
How much power do devolved assemblies really have?

• Devolution in Scotland Wales, 1970s-present day
• Roberts, p.370-384

3
What is devolution?

• Transfer of power to subordinate elected body
• Parliament retains power to suspend devolved
  bodies
• Powers limited, e.g. not include foreign policy
  or tax-varying powers
• Different from federalism or separatism

4
What is the history of the debate?

• Successes by nationalist parties (SNP, Plaid
  Cymru) in 1970s
• March 1979, referendums in Wales Scotland
  (Wales devolution lacked support, Scotland lacked
  necessary 40 of electorate supporting idea in
  Scotland)
• 1980s 90s democratic deficit (e.g. 1997 Cons.
  Failed to elect single MP in Scotland)
• 1997, New Labour manifesto pledge for greater
  regional powers
• 1997 referendums in Scotland Wales

5
Scottish Parliament

• September 1997 referendum, 2 questions should
  Scotland have a Parliament? should it have
  tax-varying powers?

6
Elections to Scottish Assembly (1999)
7
Structure

• 129 MSPs elected by Additional Member System
• No single party with overall majority (Lab formed
  a coalition with Lib Dems.)
• Largest single party chooses First Minister
  (Donald Dewar now Jack McConnell), who chooses
  executive (cabinet)

8
Powers effectiveness

• Scottish Parliament has significant policy-making
  powers, e.g. health, education, agriculture, law
  home affairs (but not foreign or economic
  policies)
• Income tax varying powers
• Low turnout, 58.7
• Lib/ Lab coalition forced to compromise over
  policies, e.g. replacement of student tuition fees

9
Issues

• Coalition govt. under electoral system
• Media criticism esp. over new Parl. building
  (400m, 10x over budget)
• No use of tax-varying powers
• Voting apathy (2003 elections, 49.4)
• Slump in support for SNP

10
Welsh Assembly

• 1997 referendum, on 1 question

11
Elections to Welsh Assembly
12
Structure

• 60 MAs elected by Additional Member System
• Assembly elects First Minister (Alun Michael/
  Rhodri Morgan) who chooses cabinet

13
Powers effectiveness

• Fewer powers than Scot. Parl
• No primary legislative powers, but can recommend
  legislation to Westminster
• No powers over defence, foreign affairs,
  constitutional issues etc.
• No tax-varying powers, operates within block
  grant allocated by Westminster
• Oversees Welsh quangos

14
Issues

• Welsh assembly approved by very slim margin at
  1997 referendum, with most Eastern counties
  voting no legitimacy?
• Probs. with voting system - Lab formed minority
  govt. (under Michael) coalition (under Morgan)
  and currently 1 seat majority
• 2003, voting apathy (38 turnout)
• Slump in nationalist vote (Plaid Cymru only 12
  seats)

15
? Your task

• Read p.381 of Roberts and list the key problems
  facing relations between devolved assemblies and
  central govt.
• Which are most likely to cause constitutional
  issues in the future? Rank them in order of
  importance

16
Issues

• Finance majority from Westminster Barnett
  formula means per capita spending in devolved
  areas is higher devolution subsidised by English
  taxpayers
• West Lothian question Tam Dalyell, Lab. MP for
  West Lothian 2003, foundation hospital debate

17
Issues

• Scottish over-representation 11 of Westminster
  seats 8.8 of UK population favours Lab.
• Co-ordination with Westminster what if
  non-Labour party in charge of devolved govt?
• Intra-UK differences tuition fees

18
Issues

• Changes in the Commons MPs representing Welsh
  Scottish constituencies barred from sitting on
  some committees, e.g. health education
• Devolution cabinet future role of Secretaries
  of State for Wales Scotland
• Devolution to English regions
• Reduced Parliamentary sovereignty

19
? Discuss

• How powerful do you think devolved assemblies
  really are?