Devolution
Scotland has two governments, the UK and Scottish governments. Each holds power and responsibility over different things and they work together for the people of Scotland.
- what is devolution?
- what powers are devolved?
- the history of devolution
- how is the Scottish Government funded?
What is devolution?
Devolution puts power closer to the citizens to improve accountability and representation in decision making. In 1999 the Scottish Parliament was created with power over the majority of public services in Scotland.
Devolution has not stood still – there have been major additions of new powers for the Scottish Parliament since 1999. These have included more accountability and control over the funding it raises and spends.
What powers are devolved?
Things the UK Government are responsible for are called ‘reserved’, and things the Scottish Government are responsible for are called ‘devolved’.
| Devolved matters: Scottish Government | Reserved matters: UK Government |
|---|---|
| Agricultural, forestry and fisheries | Broadcasting |
| Education and training | Constitution |
| Environment | Defence and National Security |
| Health, care and social services | Immigration |
| Housing and land use planning | Energy |
| Law and order | Employment |
| Local government | Equal opportunities |
| Sport, arts and tourism | Foreign affairs and international relations |
| Some elements of social security | Macroeconomic and fiscal policy |
| Some forms of taxation | Pensions, and elements of social security |
| Many aspects of transport | Trade, including international trade |
The two governments work together on many issues and cooperate to make sure that the devolution settlement is well managed – supported by the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland.
The history of devolution
In September 1997 there was a referendum in Scotland in which people voted for devolution.
The UK Parliament then passed the Scotland Act 1998 which established the Scottish Parliament, which opened in 1999, and transferred many powers previously held at Westminster.
The Scottish Government cannot make laws in reserved areas and there is a convention that the UK Government will seek the consent of the Scottish Parliament when it is passing laws that could impact on devolved areas.
Devolution has not stood still since 1999, with a number of changes and additions to the Scottish Parliament’s powers. These have included:
- The Scotland Act 2016, which devolved further powers to Scotland including significant control over income tax and social security.
- The Scotland Act 2012, which provided the largest transfer of financial powers from Westminster since the creation of the UK.
How is the Scottish Government funded?
The Scottish Government is responsible for managing its own expenditure and is accountable to the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Government’s funding comes from a combination of taxes and revenues devolved to Scotland as well as the Block Grant.
The Block Grant is the funding transferred to the Scottish Government from the UK Government. It ensures there is steady and secure funding for the Scottish Government to spend on public services. The devolution settlement means that expenditure per person on public services in Scotland is higher than the UK average.
Being part of the UK means Scotland can benefit from pooling and sharing resources with the rest of the country. As one of the world’s major economies the UK is better placed to weather unexpected economic shocks like the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and tackle major challenges like climate change.
More information
Find out more about Scotland in the UK.