Devolution in
Scotland took place during
1999 as a
referendum was carried out to test for popular support in
1997. There were
elections in
1999 for
Members of the Scottish Parliament to start their term in the year
2000.
Scotland actually had a fairly high level of autonomy. They had:
However, there was increased
debate over
devolution due to many factors (see
Devolution). While the
Conservatives were
staunchly against
devolution,
New Labour had in its
1997 manifesto the promise of a
referendum on
devolution in
Scotland and
Wales and if there was a positive outcome they would act accordingly (though it is important to note that they didn't have to since referendums are not legally binding in the UK). The
SNP also disliked
devolution for the opposite reason than the
Conservatives. They didn't think that it would lead to
independence and that it was merely a
ploy by
New Labour to keep
Scotland in the
UK while appeasing the
nationalists (which is was but it worked). When
New Labour won a
landslide victory in
1997 (many of their
seats taken from the
Conservatives in
Scotland) they held a
referendum in
Scotland to decide on whether on not to introduce
devolution. The
SNP has now changed its view on
devolution. It now sees it as a stepping stone towards
independence.
There were two questions posed to the people. One was whether there should be a devolved Scottish Parliament and the second question was whethr this parliament should have tax varying powers or not. There was good turnout to this referendum at 60.1% which meant that the referendum was actually going to represent the views of the people (those that didn't vote cannot moan since they should of got up off their backsides and voted). The result was a 'Yes-Yes' result which resulted in a devolved Scottish Parliament with an executive with tax varying powers (though only within 3% range of the English tax rate).
The Parliament
The resultant Parliament has 129 MSPs elected by a version of AMS. It has primary legislative powers which means that it can make almost any law that it wishes (as opposed to the Welsh Assembly which only has secondary legislative powers which limit it to implementing laws passed by Westminster). However there are certain areas where the Scottish Parliament cannot pass laws:
On everything else though the
Scots have total control.
Executive
A First Minister is the head of the executive. He is appointed by the Monarch on advice from the Speaker of the Scottish Assembly (he/she has to be a member of the Scottish Parliament). This First Minister then appoints the members of Cabinet.
In the English Cabinet there still exists the position of Secretary of State for Scotland though the position now has less power. It is supposed to allow better communication between the two tiers of government. The appointed person must be a Westminster MP, in the Cabinet and not be part of the Scottish Government.
Finance
Since 1978 Scotland has received a block (sum of money) from the English government. This block of money is worked out using the Barnett formula and has caused controversy. English tax payers are not too happy with paying for Scotland without obvious benefits for them.
Scotland supplements this money with money raised from council tax and the business rates.