Devolution.

“Devolution means the delegation – passing down – of some legislative and/or executive functions of central powers to local bodies, while the national powers remains responsible for major national issues such as defence, foreign affairs and macro-economics.” (Moyra Grant, Understanding Politics, 2nd edition, 1999) As far as I am concerned, the United Kingdom has long had element of executive devolution in local government, and Scotland and Wales have their own Secretaries of State with Cabinet status, however, there was no legislative devolution until 1999, in which the Scottish parliament came into being.

The situation in the UK is that Scotland now has its own parliament, Wales and Northern Ireland have their regional assemblies, and to England, the regional economic development agencies were set up in April 1999 outside London.

The degree of devolution is deferent between these four regions. Scotland has substantial powers, Wales and Northern Ireland have some powers, England has a little power. The powers were given imbalancely.

There has long been a debate on whether devolution would lead to eventually breakup of the UK. On my point of view, the independence of these regions, to some extent, would not come into being for several reasons:

First of all, the central government still has lots of control over local governments. To begin with the financial control, in the UK, the ultimate control of purse-strings is in the hands of central government. The power of tax-rising has not been devised to local governments, therefore, local governments have to ask money from central government. 80%of local revenue comes from central government. And, there is an Audit Commission created in 1983 and appointed by the Environment Secretary to oversee all local expenditures.

Although the process of devolution is getting further, central government still has the control of law-making power. Although Scotland has already had its own parliament, its power is restricted by Westminster. It can not legislate involve some fields such as fiscal matters, immigration, etc. overall, the Scotland Act lists 19 pages of powers that are reserved to Westminster. In Wales, the Welsh Assembly is much weaker than the Scottish parliament, it can only exert it power on the local spending of the seven billion pound, but it does not has taxation or law making powers. Actually, there is far less support for political nationalism in Wales than in Scotland, thus, independence would not come in being in Wales before in Scotland, suppose it would happen.

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Secondly, the majority of people in those regions do not want breakup.

Historically speaking, “too many of the British population share common values that have been created as a result of centuries of union.” Since 1066, Britain has been united. The thought that the United Kingdom is a unitary state has been internalized by the majority of t from coursework.info he population. In addition, British people are conservative. It is quite difficult for them to accept change. So they would be reluctant to accept breakup.

Geographically speaking, British people are quite mobile. Now it is quite easy for ...

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Secondly, the majority of people in those regions do not want breakup.

Geographically speaking, British people are quite mobile. Now it is quite easy for British people to travel from one part of the country from the others. If devolution eventually lead to separation between regions, it will result in much more problems for people to move. For example, some experts may feel reluctant to move their families from one country to another. Therefore, breakup may lead to lack of particular laborers. In addition, the different mineral resources spread in different parts of the UK, once the country were break up, for example, England may have to “import” coal from Wales. For the economic benefit, British people certainly are not willing to separate.

In addition, devolution has rarely lead to independence all over the world. For example, the five autonomies in China. Tibet, Xingjiang, Ningxia etc. they all have their own governments. The legislative power is granted by central government. However, all the making of law must be according to Constitution of the Republic of China. That means the local government can self-govern this region by following the central government. These policies has actually worked very well. It makes the democracy in these areas grows very well. And also creates a better government. The separatism in these areas are now rarely seen.

Limited devolution would not lead to independence. As the Liberal Democrat said in the 1997 manifestos on devolution, it is actually “giving the government back to the people. Far too much power has been concentrated in Westminster and Whitehall, Democratic government shoule be as close to ordinary people as possible.

The local government knows the local need better than central government does because it is closer to local people. In Wales, there has long been a sense of national Welsh culture, especially on the welsh language. Therefore, local government can make education based on the Welsh in order to protect this culture.

Also Local government can provide services relatively cost-effectively, for example, the people’s basic need such as housing, employment, environment, etc. if transfer of powers to the centre may increase costs, reduce democratic and accountability and ignore local needs.

In addition, devolution solves the problem of Scotland’s over representation in Westminster.

In conclusion, I think devolution will not in all probability lead to breakup in the United Kingdom even if the process of devolving powers is going on. It is obvious that the policy of devolution suits the nature of the UK. Despite the fact that it will force changes through the whole of the UK, it is the most useful way to redefine and strengthening national relationship.

How successful has devolution been so far in Scotland and Wales

Even with devolution to Scotland and Wales Britain has just about the most centralised government in the democratic world. Power is vested in a few hands in Westminster and Whitehall, with no input from the vast majority of the country. This is a failure of democracy, but it also means that policies designed in a vacuum in Whitehall are less likely to work in the real world - BSE, the poll tax, the dangerous dogs act and the child support agency are only the most vivid examples of this.

Based on the belief that some matters are better handled on a UK basis to bring about

· a single economic unit

· better access to markets, investment and common resources

· strong and effective defence and foreign policies

· an appropriate balance between self-determination and disadvantageous variation across borders

· the continued benefit of having a strong formal voice in UK-wide affairs

Reserved powers

· The constitution

· Electoral law (except local elections)

· The civil service

· Foreign policy (EU and International Development)

· Defence, national security and terrorism

· Borders, immigration, nationality and extradition

· Drugs, firearms and drug regulation

· UK fiscal and economic stability and the monetary system

· Company and business law and the regulation of financial services provision

· Competition policy, Consumer protection,

· *Regulation of energy supply, international trade policy regulation and the Export Credit Guarantee Department,

· *Broadcasting and telecommunications regulation

· Employment legislation

· Social security policy and administration, pensions regulation

· Regulation of certain professions, eg: health workers, vets, architects

· Transport safety and regulation, vehicle licensing

· *Equality legislati from coursework.info on

· UK research councils, Committee on Safety of Medicines, reciprocal healthcare agreements, the *National Lottery, data protection

· Abortion, Human Fertility and Embryology Authority, genetics, xenotransplantation

One of the several important undertakings to "modernise" the constitution given in the Labour Party manifesto in May 1997 was devolution in Scotland and Wales. This programme is now in the process of implementation. Legislation has been passed setting up devolved assemblies in Scotland and Wales, and some consideration has been given to arrangements for England (including Regional Development Agencies and a Mayor and Assembly for London).

Devolution almost certainly will prompt interest in electoral reform.MSPs are to be elected in part according to additional member systems,a form of proportional representation in contrast to the traditional "firstpast the post" system. A form of regional proportional voting wasalso adopted in European elections in 1999 (see European ParliamentaryElections Act 1999) and an additional list system is also proposed by theJenkins Committee (, Cm 4090-I, 1999).

Scotland is increasingly becoming another country, at least in terms of public policy, with free higher and further education, its teachers awarded a 23% rise over three years and free care for the elderly. Political cycles are also different. A UK general election is imminent while the Scottish parliament is about to celebrate its second anniversary - mid-term of its first four years.

Devolution.

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