The State of the Nations: The Third Year of Devolution in the United Kingdom

by Hazell, Robert

• ISBN13: 9780907845492
• ISBN10: 0907845495
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-01-29
• Publisher: Ingram Pub Services

Summary

The chapters in this book cover developments in the third year of devolution in the UK, and look ahead to the devolved assembly elections in May 2003. Part 1 of the book reports on the latest developments in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the English regions, while Part 2 analyses the impact of devolution in Westminster and Whitehall. Part 3 looks at the growing divergence in public policy resulting from devolution, and Part 4 looks ahead to the 2003 elections. Written by the Constitution Unit and the leading experts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the book is packed with facts and figures, and is essential reading for those who want to keep bang up to date with the latest developments. Book jacket.

Table of Contents

Contributors	p. xi
Figures	p. xiv
Abbreviations	p. xvii
Foreword	p. xix
Introduction: The Dynamism of Devolution in its Third Year	p. 1
The Structure of this Book	p. 1
The Nations: Wales	p. 3
The Nations: England	p. 5
The Nations: Northern Ireland	p. 4
The Nations: Scotland	p. 6
The Centre	p. 7
Diverging Public Policies	p. 7
The Devolved Assembly Elections in 2003	p. 8
Issues in the Second Term	p. 9
The Nations
From Corporate Body to Virtual Parliament The Metamorphosis of the National Assembly for Wales	p. 13
A Clash of Priorities	p. 16
The Assembly Government	p. 18
Accountability	p. 21
The Coalition	p. 25
Policy Divergence	p. 28
Education	p. 29
Communities First	p. 31
'A Bilingual Wales'	p. 31
Engaging with the European Union	p. 32
The Richard Commission	p. 35
Finance: A Core Concern	p. 38
The 'Barnett Squeeze'	p. 38
EU Money and Matched Funding	p. 40
Financial Transfers and the Assembly's Powers	p. 40
Unfinished Business	p. 41
Bibliography	p. 46
England Arisen?	p. 49
Overview	p. 49
'Your Region, Your Choice': The Government's White Paper on Regional Governance, May 2002	p. 54
The Battle for the White Paper	p. 54
The Character of the White Paper	p. 56
Reactions to the White Paper	p. 60
Institutions of Regional Governance	p. 62
Government Offices for the Regions	p. 63
Regional Development Agencies	p. 64
Regional Chambers/Assemblies	p. 66
Parliament	p. 68
Whitehall	p. 69
Mayors	p. 72
Outlook	p. 74
Bibliography	p. 76
Northern Ireland: Valedictory?	p. 79
Introduction	p. 79
Fitful progress	p. 80
Public Opinion	p. 84
The 'Peace Process'	p. 88
Trimble Agitated	p. 92
The Executive	p. 94
Reorganisation of Government	p. 96
Divisive Issues	p. 98
Annual Report	p. 101
Direct Rule Ministers	p. 103
Finance	p. 104
Assembly	p. 106
MLA's Temper	p. 112
Conclusion	p. 116
Bibliography	p. 117
Third Year, Third First Minister	p. 119
Introduction	p. 119
Third Year, Third First Minister	p. 119
The Scottish Narrative	p. 124
Policy Divergence and Policy Convergence	p. 127
Executive-Parliament Relations	p. 130
Opposition Politics	p. 136
Summary of Achievements of Devolution in the First Term	p. 136
Issues in Elections and Challenges for the Second Term	p. 138
Bibliography	p. 139
The State
Intergovernmental Relations Officialdom Still in Control?	p. 143
The Formal Process of Interactions: Meetings and Agreements	p. 145
The Joint Ministerial Committee and Concordats	p. 145
The British Irish Council and North-South Ministerial Conference	p. 149
Finance: Barnett Persists but so do the Questions	p. 151
The Power of the Treasury: Paying for Sutherland and Objective 1 for Wales	p. 151
The Comprehensive Spending Review	p. 152
The Civil Service	p. 154
Room at the Top?	p. 154
The New Office of the Deputy Prime Minister	p. 155
Legislation and the Law	p. 158
Wales	p. 158
Scotland	p. 160
Devolution and the Courts	p. 162
The Scrutiny of Intergovernmental Relations	p. 163
Conclusion	p. 165
Bibliography	p. 166
Evolution from Devolution The Experience at Westminster	p. 169
Introduction: The Limits of Modernisation	p. 169
Inter-Parliamentary Relations	p. 173
The Post-Devolution House of Commons	p. 173
The House of Lords	p. 174
The Role of MPs from Scotland and Wales	p. 175
The Departmental Select Committees	p. 178
Modernisation and the Select Committees	p. 179
The Work of Territorial Select Committees	p. 180
Joint Committee Meetings	p. 182
The Grand Committees	p. 183
Scrutiny of Legislation	p. 185
Legislation--the West Lothian Question	p. 186
Legislation for Northern Ireland	p. 187
Legislation for Wales	p. 187
Legislation for Scotland	p. 188
Relations Between MPs and Members of the Devolved Parliaments/Assemblies	p. 189
The Role of the House of Lords	p. 190
Conclusion	p. 191
Bibliography	p. 192
Public Policy Divergence
Policy Divergence Will it Change Something in Greenock?	p. 195
Understanding Devolved Health Policymaking	p. 196
What has happened?	p. 198
Organisation	p. 199
England	p. 199
Scotland	p. 200
Wales	p. 201
Northern Ireland	p. 202
New Public Health	p. 203
Wales	p. 204
Scotland	p. 205
Northern Ireland	p. 206
England	p. 207
Public and Private	p. 208
England	p. 208
Scotland	p. 209
Northern Ireland	p. 210
Wales	p. 211
Summary of Outcomes	p. 212
Bibliography	p. 213
Free Personal Care Policy Divergence and Social Citizenship	p. 215
Introduction	p. 215
Free Personal Care and the Sutherland Report	p. 217
Analysing the Case	p. 222
Central Policy Framework	p. 222
Inter-regional Equalisation	p. 224
Political and Cultural Differences	p. 226
Relative Strength of Stakeholders	p. 228
Structural Explanations for the Use of Policy Space	p. 229
Design of the Scottish Parliament and Electoral System	p. 229
The Division of Responsibilities	p. 230
Conclusion	p. 232
Bibliography	p. 233
The 2003 Elections, and Issues in the Second Term
Elections in Multi-Level Systems Lessons for the UK from Abroad	p. 239
Introduction	p. 239
Are Regional Elections 'Second Order' Elections?	p. 242
First and Second Order Elections	p. 243
Germany	p. 245
Spain	p. 248
Canada	p. 249
The Territorial Dimension	p. 251
Scotland and Wales: Lessons from Abroad	p. 253
Conclusion	p. 260
Bibliography	p. 261
Devolution Meets the Voters The Prospects for 2003	p. 263
Introduction	p. 263
Turnout	p. 266
Party Choice	p. 272
The Electoral System	p. 279
Conclusion	p. 281
Appendix	p. 281
Bibliography	p. 282
Conclusion: The Devolution Scorecard as the Devolved Assemblies Head for the Polls	p. 285
Devolution's Main Achievements	p. 285
Devolution is Here to Stay	p. 285
Devolution has introduced a More Responsive Kind of Politics	p. 286
Openness and Accessibility in the Scottish Parliament	p. 286
Partnership Councils in Wales	p. 286
Stakeholders in Regional Chambers in England	p. 288
Impact of the 'New Politics'	p. 289
Devolution has Produced Different Public Policies	p. 290
Devolution's Difficulties and Failures	p. 292
Wales Contemplates the Need for Stronger Legislative Powers	p. 293
Northern Ireland Collapses for the Fourth Time	p. 294
The English Regions Move Slowly Forward	p. 295
Whitehall Muddles Through	p. 296
The Lords Ride to the Rescue	p. 296
Challenges ahead in the Second Term of Devolution	p. 297
What will the Manifestoes Say? Challenges Facing the Parties in 2003	p. 297
Wales Needs a New Settlement	p. 298
English Regions must make up their Minds	p. 299
Can the System take the Strain?	p. 300
Bibliography	p. 301
Index	p. 303
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