1. Why does devolution matter? DO NOW Read carefully through the statement cards on your desks. Several of these statements are subtle misconceptions found in your exam scripts. Decide which is accurate and which is inaccurate. The Official Opposition is made up of all the parties in the HOC who are not in government. The Prime Minister also has the title ‘First Lord of the Treasury’. The expenses scandal was concerned with misuse of public funds by members of the government. PMQs were established by Tony Blair as a special session of ministers’ questions. The prime minister can cancel or reschedule PMQs. Ninety hereditary peers continue to serve in the HOL. The HOL can delay the passage of legislation for up to one year. The Cabinet Secretary is a member of the Cabinet. Debates, select committee hearings and ministers’ questions are all scrutiny instruments. The Cabinet can deliver a vote of no confidence in the prime minister. The leader of the Official Opposition receives an official salary. Early day motions can be submitted by any member of the HOC. Bills are read aloud and in full twice in both houses of Parliament before becoming laws. Senior civil servants are considered members of the executive branch of government. Royal Prerogative Powers are one source of the prime minister’s authority. Free votes are votes in the HOC that are proposed by backbenchers, not by the government.

2. The Official Opposition is made up of all the parties in the HOC who are not in government. The Prime Minister also has the title ‘First Lord of the Treasury’. The expenses scandal was concerned with misuse of public funds by members of the government. PMQs were established by Tony Blair as a special session of ministers’ questions. The prime minister can cancel or reschedule PMQs. Ninety hereditary peers continue to serve in the HOL. The HOL can delay the passage of legislation for up to one year. The Cabinet Secretary is a member of the Cabinet. Debates, select committee hearings and ministers’ questions are all scrutiny instruments. The Cabinet can deliver a vote of no confidence in the prime minister. The leader of the Official Opposition receives an official salary. Early day motions can be submitted by any member of the HOC. Bills are read aloud and in full twice in both houses of Parliament before becoming laws. Senior civil servants are considered members of the executive branch of government. Royal Prerogative Powers are one source of the prime minister’s authority. Free votes are votes in the HOC that are proposed by backbenchers, not by the government.

3. The Official Opposition is made up of all the parties in the HOC who are not in government. The Prime Minister also has the title ‘First Lord of the Treasury’. The expenses scandal was concerned with misuse of public funds by members of the government. PMQs were established by Tony Blair as a special session of ministers’ questions. The prime minister can cancel or reschedule PMQs. Ninety hereditary peers continue to serve in the HOL. The HOL can delay the passage of legislation for up to one year. The Cabinet Secretary is a member of the Cabinet. Debates, select committee hearings and ministers’ questions are all scrutiny instruments. The Cabinet can deliver a vote of no confidence in the prime minister. The leader of the Official Opposition receives an official salary. Early day motions can be submitted by any member of the HOC. Bills are read aloud and in full twice in both houses of Parliament before becoming laws. Senior civil servants are considered members of the executive branch of government. Royal Prerogative Powers are one source of the prime minister’s authority. Free votes are votes in the HOC that are proposed by backbenchers, not by the government.

4. CONDENSED The House of Lords is a non- democratic body and peers are appointed for life. This means that for the most part peers lack further political career ambitions and promotion. MPs, on the other hand, generally would like to gain a higher position on the political ladder and to do this they need to be very loyal to their party and supportive of any bills the party puts forward. DEVELOPED Peers are appointed based on their achievements in professional or public life. This guarantees that a healthy number of peers are not professional politicians. Such people are less likely to harbour ambitions to be ministers or to join the Cabinet. This makes them less influenced by the party whip and more likely to vote their conscience. Peers with significant careers prior to entering Parliament often possess professional expertise which affects their voting behaviour. For example, Professor Lord Winston’s expertise has directly influenced his attitude towards proposed cuts in medical research.

5. Learning objectives To consolidate and extend our understanding of devolution and multi-level government

6. Homework Using your own knowledge as well as the extract (box 12.2 on p.230), identify and explain two problems arising from the West Lothian Question. (10 marks)

7. Accountability and Information By reducing the distance between politicians and their electorate, devolution can increase transparency and accountability Devolved governments may also have advantages over central governments in terms of information collection Greater accountability and better information should improve the design and implementation of policy 7

8. Policy differentiation across regions may benefit the nation because it allows for policy experimentation Experimentation at the regional rather than the national level exposes the nation to less risk If policy experiments are successful, other regions can imitate the new policies 8 Policy innovation

9. Economic growth All of these factors—policy innovation, increased accountability and improved information collection— may lead to higher rates of economic growth On the other hand, a devolved parliament that better reflects the wishes of its electorate may implement policies that have a negative impact on growth A recent review of the empirical literature on the link between fiscal decentralisation and growth concludes that ‘at best the jury is ‘out’ on this issue, and at worst the evidence suggests no clear, precise relationship’ (Harris et al. 2011) 9

10. Devolution in Scotland Topic 4: Devolution10 General public services Defence Public order and safety Economic affairs Environment protection Housing and community amenities Health Recreation, culture and religion Education Social protection Total Expenditure on Services Scottish Assembly Government 44241,1413,0363141,59810,7722402,61323420,393 Scottish Office 17––––––––– Scottish local government 61751,3021,478738175–8825,4174,93015,544 Local government public corporations –––5––––––5 UK government departments 630123876326–49912015,57717,125 Total identifiable expenditure in Scottish 1,14092,5665,3941,3781,77310,8211,2138,04920,74153,085 Scottish government (broadly defined) as proportion of total 93%100%95%84%76%100% 92%100%25%68% Scottish government (broadly defined) Source: PESA (2011) The Scottish government (broadly defined) is responsible for spending the bulk of the money spent in Scotland Areas likely to have a direct impact on growth

11. Allocative Efficiency Devolution has led to policy differentiation across the UK which suggests there may have been improvements in allocative efficiency A good example of policy differentiation is the different approaches taken towards university tuition fees: 11 Domicile of student Location of institution EnglandScotlandWalesNI EnglandUp to £9,000 ScotlandUp to £9,000No feeUp to £9,000 WalesUp to £3,575 N. IrelandUp to £9,000 Up to £3,575 EUUp to £9,000No feeUp to £3,575 Other international Variable Source: UCAS (2012)

12. 12 There are differences in the composition of expenditure across the UK which also implies policy differences However, such differences are not necessarily the consequence of devolution Source: PESA (2011) Allocative Efficiency

13. Summary There are arguments for and against the devolution of power to regional/local government The Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament have substantial powers to improve economic welfare although both currently lack powers to raise revenue Since devolution, the economic performance of Wales has deteriorated while the performance of the Scottish economy has improved Topic 4: Devolution13

14. Elected representatives at different levels of government The responsibilities of the different levels of government are of major importance in the United Kingdom. While at all levels there are elected representatives, their power varies considerably. A criticism of local government, for example, is that it largely follows the orders of central government, with limited scope for councillors to decide on major issues in their own right. With devolved government, a major criticism lies in the inequalities in the representation of citizens from the various nations within the UK, leading some observers to suggest the creation of an elected English Parliament. The most powerful elected representatives within the UK are found in the Westminster Parliament, where candidates elected by the people consider the electorate’s best interests, along with possible consequences, when debating and agreeing the laws that the population must abide by. The only directly elected institution within the European Union (EU) is the European Parliament. However, although a supranational body, it does not hold the same authority as national parliaments because power is shared amongst the institutions of the EU. Source: adapted from T HOLDEN-ROWLEY, M MITCHELL, AS Citizenship Studies for AQA

15. Explain the term central government used in the extract. (5 marks) Explain the term elected representatives used in the extract. (5 marks) Using your own knowledge as well as the extract, identify and explain two arguments in favour of the creation of an elected English Parliament. (10 marks)

16. STUDENT RESOURCES

17. The Official Opposition is made up of all the parties in the HOC who are not in government. The Prime Minister also has the title ‘First Lord of the Treasury’. The expenses scandal was concerned with misuse of public funds by members of the government. PMQs were established by Tony Blair as a special session of ministers’ questions. The prime minister can cancel or reschedule PMQs. Ninety hereditary peers continue to serve in the HOL. The HOL can delay the passage of legislation for up to one year. The Cabinet Secretary is a member of the Cabinet. Debates, select committee hearings and ministers’ questions are all scrutiny instruments. The Cabinet can deliver a vote of no confidence in the prime minister. The leader of the Official Opposition receives an official salary. Early day motions can be submitted by any member of the HOC. Bills are read aloud and in full twice in both houses of Parliament before becoming laws. Senior civil servants are considered members of the executive branch of government. Royal Prerogative Powers are one source of the prime minister’s authority. Free votes are votes in the HOC that are proposed by backbenchers, not by the government.

18. CONDENSED The House of Lords is a non- democratic body and peers are appointed for life. This means that for the most part peers lack further political career ambitions and promotion. MPs, on the other hand, generally would like to gain a higher position on the political ladder and to do this they need to be very loyal to their party and supportive of any bills the party puts forward. DEVELOPED Peers are appointed based on their achievements in professional or public life. This guarantees that a healthy number of peers are not professional politicians. Such people are less likely to harbour ambitions to be ministers or to join the Cabinet. This makes them less influenced by the party whip and more likely to vote their conscience. Peers with significant careers prior to entering Parliament often possess professional expertise which affects their voting behaviour. For example, Professor Lord Winston’s expertise has directly influenced his attitude towards proposed cuts in medical research.