Devolution in the United Kingdom (before May 1997)

1909-1910 1931 6.2.1952 1973 May 1979 May/June 1982 1990 1992 1.11.1993
Historical Dominion status granted to the provinces Commonwealth Queen Elizabeth II UK joins the EEC Margaret Thatcher Falklands conflict "Poll tax", or "community charge" - "Council tax", partly based on The EU (Maastricht) Treaty
Background of the British Indies and the South African Union accedes to the throne becomes Prime Minister a local tax replacing rates (property tax) property value, replacing the poll tax enters into force

1542 1707 1801 1922 1949 1961 1975 1980s November 1990 1992 May 1997
Act of Union between Act of Union between Act of Union between Great Britain and Establishment of UK joins NATO De Gaulle vetoes the UK Referendum confirming Privatisation of public services, such as gas, John Major UK leaves the Tony Blair
England and Wales England and Scotland Ireland establishing the United Kingdom the Irish Free State application to join the EEC UK membership of EEC telecommunications, water, electricity and rail becomes Prime Minister European Monetary System becomes Prime Minister

Devolution process
1963 1972 1973 1979 1985
1835 Legislation on Local Government Act 1973 Scottish and Welsh 1.4.1996
Municipal Local Government Act Local Government Act 1991 Two-tier system
the administrative in England and Wales: restructuring local Local Government Act referendums fail to
Corporations Act adopt the Callaghan plan abolishing Establishment of the is replaced by
organisation of London two-tier system based government in Scotland, metropolitan counties Local Government
establishing administration in reforming and for semi-autonomous single-tier system
(London on county councils and the Commission in Wales and
municipal Government Act) Northern Ireland, extending powers parliaments in
councils and district councils Greater London Scotland
cutting back Edinburgh and
Cardiff Council
local powers

Constitutional link appoints the Prime Minister

Parliament Monarch
Government
National

House of Lords House of Commons Government answerable to the Parliament

level

(chamber of representatives)
elected by direct universal suffrage, appoints
Prime Minister appoints
by a majority vote in a single ballot
appoints

Secretary of State for the Environment, Secretary of State appoints Secretary of State Secretary of State
Transport and the Regions for Wales for Scotland for Northern Ireland
Regional

England Wales Scotland Northern

level

Ireland
supervises supervises supervises supervises supervises supervises supervises supervises
and and and and and and and and
subsequently subsequently subsequently subsequently subsequently subsequently subsequently subsequently
monitors monitors monitors monitors monitors monitors monitors monitors

8 County Councils 9 Regional Councils

39 (non-metropolitan) County Members elected by direct
Intermediate

6 Metropolitan Councils Members elected by direct

universal suffrage,
County Councillors elected by direct 1 Greater universal suffrage, by a by a majority vote in a
Councils universal suffrage, by a London majority vote in a single ballot. single ballot.
level

majority vote in a single ballot

abolished in 1986 Council “Exclusive” (political) functions: “Exclusive”
under the 1985 abolished preparing the budget and setting (political functions):
Local in 1986 local tax rates; functions shared preparing the budget
Government Act under the 1985 with the Chief executive in the and setting local tax rates;

Shetland and Western Isles)

3 Island Councils (Orkney,
Local other areas; functions shared with the
Government Act Chief executive in other
work in committees areas; work in committees

supervises
and
subsequently
296 District 36 Metropolitan London: 37 District Councils monitors 26 District
Councils Councils 32 Borough Councils Members elected by direct Councils
universal suffrage, by a
Members elected Members elected + City of London majority vote in a single Members elected by
by direct by direct universal Local duties similar ballot. direct universal
universal suffrage, by a to County Councils Local duties similar suffrage, by a majority
suffrage, by a majority vote in to County Councils 53 District Councils
except for certain vote in a single ballot.
Local

majority vote in a single ballot. Members elected by direct

level

a single ballot. strategic functions “Exclusive” (political)

Local duties universal suffrage, by a
Local duties Members elected by majority vote in a single functions: preparing
similar to County
similar to County direct universal suffrage, ballot. Local duties similar the budget and setting
Councils Councils by a majority vote in to County Councils local tax rates;
a single ballot functions shared with
Within the districts: the Chief executive in
Community Councils 1,350 Local Community Councils, other areas;
A number 10,000 parishes (abolished in 1995) bodies elected by popular vote
of parishes in work in committees
of which 8,000 which are not local authorities
the metropolitan have Councils unlike in England and Wales
areas

1990 1993
1979 1980 EUROCORP ECOM (European Chamber
Role played by territorial authorities “Cooperation North”, Madrid European Outline European economic interest group of Commerce)
responsible for forging European economic
in promoting European integration closer North-South links
Convention on Transfrontier (exchanging proposals
and information on trade) interest group involved
Cooperation between Territorial
and cross-border relations (for information) between commercial and
industrial enterprises
Communities or Authorities between Belgium, the Netherlands,
France, Spain
in promoting cross-border
cooperation between Northern
and the United Kingdom Ireland and the Republic
 Devolution in the United Kingdom (Post May 1997) Responsibilities
11.11.1999 10.2.2000 June 2000 7.11.2001 1.2.2003
Historical Bill on the reform Suspension of the semi-autonomous Reinstatement of the semi-autonomous White Paper entitled Treaty of Nice comes into force
Background of the House of Lords Northern Ireland Assembly Northern Ireland Assembly "The House of Lords – completing the reform"

1.5.1999 20.1.2000 4.5.2000 May 2001 14.10.2002 1.5.2003 Central government legislative responsibilities
Amsterdam Treaty Report on the reform Ken Livingstone Blair Government re-elected Further suspension of devolved Second elections to Parliament retains absolute sovereignty; this places it above all the administrative institutions at both central and local level
enters into force of the House of Lords becomes Mayor of London government in Northern Ireland the Scottish Parliament
Legislative power lies solely with the Westminster Parliament, except for the legislative power allocated to the Scottish Parliament

Devolution process
8.5.2003 Exclusive responsibilities at central level on
April 1998 Regional Assemblies • market in goods and services
Moves towards 7.5.1998 25.5.1998 6.5.1999 4.5.2000 • foreign policy, including relations with Europe
7.5.1998 22.5.1998 First elections in 28.7.2000 Act providing for elected • employment policy
11.9.1997 18.9.1997 settling the conflict Northern Ireland Act Referendum Elections to Elections for the regional assemblies in
establishing the Referendum on the Northern Ireland of Local • defence and national security
Scottish referendum Welsh referendum in Northern Ireland, in London establishing the Scottish Mayor of London the eight English regions • social welfare
establishing a semi-autonomous Good Friday Agreement the members of the Government Act • tax stability
establishing the (Good Friday Agreement), the Greater London parliament and the and to the specified in the Regional
Welsh National Northern Ireland in Northern Ireland semi-autonomous (England and • economic and monetary system
Scottish Parliament start of the reform of Authority Welsh assembly London Assembly Development Agencies
Assembly Assembly assembly (MLAs) Wales)
local institutions Act of 1998 (excluding
London)
Scottish ,Welsh and Northern Irish legislative and administrative responsibilities
1. The Scottish Parliament has primary and secondary legislative power, in 3. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has the power to suspend the
constitutional link appoints the Prime Minister
addition to the powers previously devolved to the Scottish Office, in the devolved institutions at any moment (c.f. February 2000). The Secretary of
Parliament Monarch Government fields of: State’s responsibilities cover:
Government answerable to the Parliament • health • education • training • law and order
House of Lords House of Commons
National

(chamber of representatives) The Scottish Parliament also has the power to influence internal tax rates (by • management of the national insurance scheme
elected by direct universal suffrage, Prime Minister
level

appoints approx. 3 pence in the pound) • security policy

by a majority vote in a single ballot appoints
appoints • finance
2. The Welsh Assembly has no primary legislative powers, but is authorised to • the penal system and prison administration
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Secretary of State Secretary of State appoints Secretary of State pass secondary legislation in those areas which usually were the responsibili- • telecommunications
(ODPM) since 2001 for Wales for Scotland for Northern Ireland ty of the Secretary of State for Wales. The Welsh Assembly has responsibili- • international relations
ty for those public services and policies previously dealt with by the
Secretary of State for Wales. The semi-autonomous Assembly can legislate on internal affairs, notably in the
monitors monitors
Both these countries also deal with the usual local government responsibilities: following areas:
housing, economic development, transport, internal affairs, environment, agri- • justice • cultural affairs
culture, fisheries, forestries, sport and the arts.
England monitors Wales Scotland Northern Ireland • heritage • health
Greater London • education • local administration
Authority Semi-autonomous • housing
Scottish Parliament
Regional

English regions Welsh Northern Ireland Assembly

established on One Leader chaired by a Scottish “First Minister”
Scottish Executive established under the Good Friday Agreement
level

Regional Regional Chambers - 4 May 2000; National Assembly (First Secretary) (or cabinet) of 10 April 1998, the Assembly is a legislative
129 members of the Scottish

elects the Executive

Development Agencies:
(members of the Agencies
are appointed by the
Government):
a first step towards English
Powers regional government
Intermediate
monitoring regional development the mayor elected by no primary - Scottish Government - and executive authority comprising
agencies' operations - made up direct universal suffrage; legislative power;
chairing the Parliament (MSPs), 73 of which are
108 members. It sits in Belfast
Greater London Authority (GLA) • police forces
executive, whose elected by a majority vote in a led by the Scottish • the environment
of councillors most of whom are assembly comprising 60 members (20 + 40) single ballot and 56 by proportional First Minister: able to
The main areas of responsibility of the GLA are as follows:
members do not • culture
appointed by local authorities 25 members who have the title representation; primary and represent Scotland in the Executive • strategic planning
monitor the work of the secondary legislative power and • health
of minister European Union’s equivalent to the British Cabinet at a • regional aspects of economic development
mayor and question him power to vary local tax rates Council of Ministers lower level, the Executive comprises • transport The Assembly also has the power to consider other issues of key importance
about the decisions a first minister, a deputy first minister and
which he takes 10 ministers, one for each of the departments. • planning of the fire and civil protection services to the population of London and to submit proposals to the Mayor.
David Trimble waselected First Minister
legislative legislative on 1 July 1998
34 County Councils and financial and financial

monitoring monitoring 10 Departments

Councillors elected by direct County administrative responsibilities
universal suffrage, by a
• consumer protection
Powers The County Councils are responsible for:
level

majority vote in a single ballot only monitors • fire services and law and order
monitors • education
those areas only monitors • urban planning*
for which those areas for • traffic, transport and highways
it still has
• museums, parks and recreation facilities*
which it still has • social services
responsibility responsibility • refuse disposal
* shared responsibilities
• libraries
47 UNITARY UNITARY
33 London AUTHORITY AUTHORITY
English 36 Metropolitan
District Boroughs per constituency, per constituency,
Shire (including City planned since 1996; planned since 1996; District administrative responsibilities
Councils
Unitary Councillors elected 238 District of London) 22 Unitary 32 Unitary
26 District Councils District Councils are responsible for:
Authority Councils Authority Councils
Councils by direct universal Councils Councillors elected by • housing • refuse collection
suffrage, by a Councillors elected • health protection • urban planning*
majority vote in Powers direct universal suffrage,
(including
Local

by direct universal by a majority vote in • measures to combat pollution • museums, parks and recreation facilities*
level

a single ballot suffrage, by a

Isles of a single ballot
majority vote in • building regulations * shared responsibilities
Scilly) a single ballot
In certain areas, urban areas especially, a single "unitary" level of local government is responsible for these areas.
Parish Councils (England) and Community Councils (Wales) are responsible for:
• planning permission for housing estates, public buildings* and major roads*
• urban planning*
• planning of open-air sports facilities*, other recreational facilities*, cemeteries*, and car parks*
• lighting and pavement maintenance*
Evolution Northern Ireland
of powers Role played by territorial authorities 24.4.1998
• North/South Ministerial Council: institution bringing together Ministers
from the Republic and from Northern Ireland to deal with issues such as
* responsibilities shared with district councils
in promoting European integration Ratification of the European Charter the environment, transport and tourism
of Local Self-Government • British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference: this body replaces the
and cross-border relations (for information) (which came into force on 1 August 1998) Intergovernmental Council established under the 1985 Anglo-Irish Limited responsibilities in Northern Ireland District Councils
Agreement. Its role is to promote cooperation at all levels involving Almost all District Council responsibilities were transferred to the nine area boards whose members are appointed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Powers interests common to the two countries

Current situation as of September 2003