Devolution
This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on devolution. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.
Standard Notes
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 01.02.2013 | Political developments in Wales to December 2012 |
| This note provides an update on political developments in Wales between January and December 2012. It updates the previous Library Standard Note (SN/PC/06177), Political Developments in Wales to December 2011. | |
| 15.01.2013 | Referendum on independence for Scotland |
| The UK and Scottish Governments reached agreement in October 2012 on the legislation needed to hold a referendum on Scottish independence. This Note discusses the agreement, and the draft 'Section 30 Order' by which the UK Parliament will give the Scottish Parliament the power to hold the vote. It also covers the question of the franchise and some reaction to the agreement. | |
| 01.11.2012 | Holtham Commission |
| This note outlines the main recommendations from the Holtham Commission's final report, briefly summarises the Commission's first report and includes reaction from the Welsh Assembly and UK Government to the Commission's recommendations. | |
| 06.07.2012 | Scotland's economy: current situation and issues related to independence |
| 10.05.2012 | Responsibility for reserved powers in Scotland |
| This Standard Note shows which UK government department is responsible for which reserved power in Scotland. It does not provide a definitive list of reserved powers, but is a practical guide to departmental responsibilities. |
Research Papers
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 07.08.2012 | UK Election Statistics: 1918-2012 |
| This paper presents an overview of results from UK elections since 1918, including elections to the House of Commons, the European Parliament, devolved bodies and local government. | |
| 14.06.2011 | Scotland Bill: Committee Stage Report |
| This is a report on the Commons committee stage of the Scotland Bill 2010-12. Introduced to the House of Commons on 30 November 2010, its second reading was on 27 January 2011, and its committee stage took place on the floor of the House on 7, 14 and 15 March 2011. Report and third reading are scheduled for 21 June 2011. On 13 June 2011 the Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore, announced a package of changes to the Bill in response to issues that had been raised in the UK and Scottish Parliaments, and by the Scottish Government. | |
| 11.05.2011 | Legislation (Territorial Extent) Bill: Committee Stage Report |
| This Paper examines the progress of the Bill during its House of Commons Committee Stage. Further detail on the Bill is available in Research Paper 11/17, prepared for the Second Reading of the Bill. | |
| 08.02.2011 | Legislation (Territorial Extent) Bill |
| The Legislation (Territorial Extent) Bill is a Private Member's Bill. The Bill applies to draft primary legislation and to secondary legislation published before the parent Act has gained Royal Assent. In these cases, it requires that the draft contain a statement setting out its legal effects on each nation of the United Kingdom, and that a memorandum accompany the draft showing its financial effects on each nation. | |
| 18.01.2011 | Scotland Bill [Bill No 115 of 2010-11] |
| The Scotland Bill was published on 30 November 2010, and is scheduled for second reading on 27 January 2011. The Bill contains provisions to give the Scottish Parliament greater responsibility for raising its own revenue, in addition the borrowing powers of the Scottish Government are extended. The Bill also changes the boundary of devolved powers by amending some of the reserved matters in the Scotland Act 1998. Some new matters are devolved, some are reserved. The Bill also proposes small changes to provisions concerning the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government. |
Select Committee Reports
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 18.01.2012 | Corporation tax in Northern Ireland: Government response to the Committee's first report. |
| Government response. Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee report [Commons] | |
| 22.03.2011 | Constitutional implications of the Cabinet Manual. |
| Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee report [Commons] | |
| 11.01.2011 | The implications for Wales of the Government's proposals for constitutional reform. |
| Government response. Welsh Affairs Select Committee; Office of the Secretary of State for Wales report [Commons] | |
| 18.11.2010 | The proposed amendment of Schedule 7 of the Government of Wales Act 2006. |
| Welsh Affairs Select Committee report [Commons] | |
| 20.07.2010 | Wales and Whitehall. |
| Government response. Welsh Affairs Select Committee report [Commons] |
Early Day Motions
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 23.11.2011 | ELECTORAL SYSTEM IN WALES |
| That this House recognises that the Government has no mandate to change the current system for elections to the Welsh Assembly; and believes that any proposals for change to that system ... | |
| 31.10.2011 | MICHAEL D. HIGGINS PRESIDENT OF IRELAND |
| That this House welcomes the election of Michael D. Higgins as President of Ireland as a beacon for reason, tolerance and decency on these islands and throughout the Irish diaspora; ... | |
| 08.09.2011 | COACH CONCESSIONARY TRAVEL |
| That this House welcomes the decision by the Welsh Assembly Government to honour its pledge to retain the coach concessionary travel scheme for journeys that begin in Wales; acknowledges ... | |
| 05.09.2011 | PROPOSED WELSH LANGUAGE SCHOOL: YSGOL GYMRAEG GWYNFOR |
| That this House notes that next year will be the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Gwynfor Evans of Barry, who was voted the fourth most important Welsh hero of the last millennium ... | |
| 16.03.2011 | DEVOLUTION |
| That this House welcomes the result of the recent referendum in Wales; notes that this will give the Welsh Assembly Government direct law-making powers in 20 devolved areas, including ... |
Lords Library Notes
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 12.07.2012 | Debate on 19 July: Silk Commission on Devolution in Wales |
| This Lords Library Note provides background information for the debate on 19 July on the Silk Commission considering the possible devolution of fiscal powers to the National Assembly for Wales. | |
| 11.07.2011 | Scotland Bill (HL Bill 79 of 2010-12) |
| This Library Note provides information for the second reading of the Scotland Bill in the House of Lords. |
