A FEDERAL BRITAIN?: DEVOLVED GOVERNMENT SURVEYED

Mark O'Sullivan, Member, on 9 July 2001

The speaker lived in Scotland whilst devolution was taking place and ruminated on the effect the process would have on the UK.

Scotland was united with England legally by the Act of Union of 1707, although King James VI of Scotland became James I of England in 1603. The amalgamation was marked by the appointment of a Secretary of State for Scotland in 1885, and the move of the Scottish Office to Edinburgh in 1939.

Wales and Northern Ireland became legally joined to England in 1282 and 1801 respectively.

It is not generally appreciated how small a part of the UK population lives in the `Celtic' areas Scotland 5 million; Northern Ireland 1½ million; Wales 1 million, but England 50 million.

The movement for devolution in Scotland was triggered by the removal of the Stone of Scone from Westminster Abbey in 1953 and built up during the `60s and `70s. The first referendum failed to produce an adequate majority in 1978. The early introduction of the poll tax in Scotland in 1987, one year before England, stirred up interest and led to the Constitutional Convention being formed in 1989. This resulted in the Government's Consultative Strategy Group after the 1997 election. The 1997 referendum showed 75% of a 60% turn-out in favour of devolution in Scotland, whereas in Wales only 50.3% of 50% wanted an Assembly.

The resulting Scottish Parliament consists of 73 constituency members and 56 `list' members, elected by the additional member system of proportional representation based on the European Parliament's constituencies. It has authority concerning all matters that are not specifically reserved to the Westminster Parliament, which are tax ( but they can vary income tax by 3%), trade and industry, and social services.

The Welsh Assembly has 40 constituency and 20 `list' members, and can only deal with subordinate legislation. Both bodies receive money from Whitehall as either block grants or according to the Barnett Formula, which gives them a proportion of the English amounts based on population (Scotland approx 10%; Wales 5%), annually uprated.

The relevance of the devolution of Scotland and Wales to English government and regions was reported on by the Kilbrandon Commission in 1973, when a minority report advocated English Regional devolution. The formation of Government Offices for the Regions in 1994 might lead to Regional Assemblies when the Regional Development Agencies are fully functional.

There are a number of issues that will require decisions before English devolution can take place the Barnett formula; relations with the EU; the `West Lothian question', and the position of the Secretaries of State amongst others.

Discussion.

Several questions were posed: Are we all British, and if so, for how long if English Regional Government takes place? Do foreigners recognise all UK citizens as `British' or `English' or by their devolved nationality? Are we subjects or citizens? Answering the last question, the speaker said that Scots traditionally considered power resided in the people, whereas English recognised that it lay with the Monarch before 1688; so Scots thought of themselves as citizens and English as subjects.

Why did Scotland get a Parliament but Wales
only an Assembly? Because of differences in the powers granted them and a Welsh tradition.

What is the opinion of the success of the Scottish Parliament? The politicians think it a success, the journalists and public are more doubtful.

A strong case can be made for English Regional Assemblies, especially for the South West (although Cornwall may be a difficulty with its separate language and culture), Mercia, Northumbria and Yorkshire. France and Italy have them, although the French Mayors are very powerful in large towns.

The legal system in Scotland has always been different from England; is Wales evolving its own? The Welsh Assembly's powers are very limited at present.

Scottish Bank notes existed before devolution. Did this and the different legal system make Scotland a distinct part of the UK was there ever in fact a United Kingdom? And will Scotland have Scottish euro notes?

Do people shape history or does history shape them? The Westminster Parliament ensures the latter, but the introduction of proportional representation into it might change the situation.

The EU and European Parliament affect Wales particularly because EU directives are implemented by the devolved governments, so the Assembly can `tweak' them. It has been announced that they are to introduce a Baccalaureate to replace A level exams.

Donald Lovell