Democracy in Scotland - Devolution

Summary

This video lesson provides an overview of how decision-making is divided between the UK central government and the Scottish Parliament. It explains the UK's constitutional monarchy, the role of devolved and reserved powers, and how they impact areas like health, education, and defense. The lesson uses the coronavirus pandemic as a practical example of devolution in action, highlighting Scotland's response. It also touches on the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence and concludes with a task for students to explore devolved matters in more depth.

Takeaways

• 📜 The UK is a constitutional monarchy, where the Queen is the head of state but holds very little political power.
• 🏛️ Decision-making in the UK is divided between the UK Parliament at Westminster and devolved governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
• 📊 In 1997, Scotland voted in favor of having its own Parliament through a referendum, with 74% supporting the idea.
• 🏴 Devolution in Scotland means that the Scottish Parliament has control over certain local matters like health, education, and justice, while other powers are reserved by the UK government.
• 🔐 Reserved powers are held back by the UK government and include issues like national defense, foreign affairs, immigration, and most benefits.
• 🛠️ Devolved powers in Scotland include areas like health, education, crime, justice, housing, and transport.
• 🏥 The Scottish Government made independent decisions during the coronavirus pandemic, such as creating the NHS Louisa Jordan hospital.
• 📜 The Scottish Parliament passed the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act to handle issues like preventing evictions and early prisoner release during the pandemic.
• 🇬🇧 In 2014, a referendum on Scottish independence resulted in 55% voting to remain part of the United Kingdom.
• 📝 A possible exam question might ask students to describe two devolved matters, such as health and education, using specific, up-to-date examples.

Q & A

What is a constitutional monarchy, and how does it apply to the UK?

A constitutional monarchy is a system where a monarch (in this case, the Queen) is the head of state but has little to no political power. In the UK, the monarch's role is largely ceremonial, such as opening Parliament, while actual decision-making is carried out by elected officials in the government.

What is devolution, and how has it impacted Scotland?

Devolution is the process of transferring powers from a central government to local or regional governments. In Scotland, this led to the creation of the Scottish Parliament in 1997, which handles devolved matters like health, education, and justice, while certain powers remain with the UK Parliament.

What are reserved powers, and can you give some examples?

Reserved powers are those held back by the UK government and not transferred to devolved governments. Examples include national defense, foreign affairs, immigration, pensions, and most benefits.

Can you explain the division of decision-making between the Scottish Parliament and the UK Parliament?

The Scottish Parliament has control over devolved matters like health, education, crime, and transport, while the UK Parliament retains control over reserved matters such as defense, foreign policy, and immigration. This allows Scotland to make decisions on specific regional issues while the UK government handles broader national concerns.

What is a recent example of devolution in action?

During the coronavirus pandemic, the Scottish Government made independent decisions regarding health policy, such as building the NHS Louisa Jordan emergency hospital in Glasgow to manage COVID-19 cases, while the UK government handled broader issues like national lockdown measures.

What was the result of the 1997 Scottish referendum on devolution?

In the 1997 Scottish referendum, 74% of voters supported the creation of a Scottish Parliament, leading to the establishment of the Parliament and the devolution of certain powers from the UK government to Scotland.

How did the 2014 Scottish independence referendum impact the UK?

In the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, 45% of voters supported Scotland becoming an independent country, while 55% voted to remain part of the UK. The result led to Scotland staying within the United Kingdom.

What is the role of the Scottish Government in managing health policies?

The Scottish Government is responsible for health policies within Scotland, including decisions related to hospitals, healthcare services, and public health responses. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it decided to build an emergency hospital to handle increased cases.

What is the difference between devolved and reserved matters?

Devolved matters are issues for which the Scottish Parliament has control, such as health, education, and justice. Reserved matters are issues that remain under the control of the UK government, including national defense, foreign affairs, and immigration.

What was the impact of Brexit on the Scottish Parliament's powers?

Brexit required changes in decision-making for areas previously influenced by the European Union. Some powers that the EU previously held have now been transferred to the Scottish Parliament, meaning it will gain more control over certain issues like agriculture and fisheries.