## Learning Outcomes

- Explain what devolution means and how it differs from independence
- Identify the main devolved institutions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including where they meet
- Distinguish devolved powers from reserved powers held at Westminster
- Recall the key dates in devolution (1998–1999) and the Northern Ireland peace process (1998)
- Describe what the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement achieved in Northern Ireland

## Life in the UK Test Syllabus

For the Life in the UK Test, you are expected to understand devolution in the UK and the Northern Ireland peace process, with a focus on the following syllabus points:

- Define devolution and know that the UK Parliament at Westminster remains sovereign
- Know the dates and locations of the devolved bodies: Scottish Parliament (1999, Edinburgh) and Welsh Assembly (1999, Cardiff)
- Know the role and basic structure of the Northern Ireland Assembly and that it was set up after the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement (1998)
- Identify examples of reserved matters (for example defence and foreign affairs) versus devolved matters (for example education and health)
- Know that the Northern Ireland Parliament was established in 1922 and abolished in 1972, and link this to the Troubles beginning in 1969
- Recall that the Northern Ireland Assembly was elected in 1999 and that it was suspended from 2002 to 2007

## Test Your Knowledge

_Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, look more closely at that area during your revision._

1. What does “devolution” mean in the UK, and does it make Westminster less powerful in law?
2. Which three parts of the UK have devolved legislatures, and where do they meet?
3. Name two policy areas that are usually reserved to the UK Parliament and two that are often devolved.
4. What was agreed in the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement, and in what year was it signed?
5. When was the Northern Ireland Assembly suspended, and when was it reinstated?

## Introduction

The UK is made up of four nations: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Although the UK Parliament at Westminster makes laws for the whole UK, parts of the UK also have their own elected bodies that make decisions about many local and domestic issues. This system is called devolution.

Devolution is closely connected to the modern history of Northern Ireland. After decades of conflict known as the Troubles, a peace settlement in 1998 led to new power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland and helped reduce violence.

> **Key Term: Devolution**
> The transfer of certain powers from the UK Parliament and UK Government at Westminster to elected bodies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

### What devolution is (and what it is not)

Devolution means that some decisions are made closer to the people affected by them. It does not create a separate country or remove the authority of the UK Parliament. Devolution is often described as “asymmetrical” because the devolved nations do not all have the same powers.

A common point tested is the difference between devolved and reserved responsibilities. Some areas, such as defence and foreign affairs, stay under UK-wide control. Other areas, such as health and education, are largely managed by devolved bodies (depending on the nation).

> **Key Term: Reserved matters**
> Policy areas that remain under the authority of the UK Parliament and UK Government, not the devolved administrations (for example defence and foreign affairs).
>
> **Test Tip:** If a question asks who controls defence, foreign affairs, immigration, taxation or social security, the safe answer is usually “the UK Parliament/UK Government at Westminster”, not the devolved bodies.

### Devolution in Scotland and Wales

Devolution developed in different ways across the UK, but major changes came after the Labour government led by Tony Blair was elected in 1997. New bodies were created in 1999 for Scotland and Wales.

### Scotland: the Scottish Parliament (1999)

The Scottish Parliament was formed in 1999 and meets in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. It has 129 members, called MSPs (Members of the Scottish Parliament), elected using a form of proportional representation.

The Scottish Parliament can pass laws for Scotland on most matters that are not reserved to the UK Parliament. In practice, its responsibilities include key domestic areas such as:

- health
- education
- planning
- civil and criminal law
- some tax-raising powers

This is why Scotland is often described as having a stronger set of devolved powers than Wales (especially in the early years of devolution).

> **Key Term: Scottish Parliament**
> The devolved legislature for Scotland, formed in 1999 and based in Edinburgh, with power to legislate on matters not reserved to Westminster.

### Wales: the Welsh Assembly (1999)

Wales also gained a devolved body in 1999, based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. In the official Life in the UK materials, this is commonly referred to as the Welsh Assembly (and it is closely linked to the Welsh Government). It has 60 Assembly Members (AMs), elected every four years using a form of proportional representation.

At first, the Welsh Assembly had fewer legislative powers than Scotland, but it had significant responsibility for running public services in Wales. Since 2011, the Assembly has been able to pass laws in 21 areas without needing agreement from the UK Parliament in those areas. Examples include:

- education and training
- health and social services
- economic development
- housing

In Wales, the Welsh language has an official role in public life. Members can speak in Welsh or English, and official publications are produced in both languages.

> **Key Term: Welsh Assembly**
> The devolved legislature for Wales, formed in 1999 and based in Cardiff, with powers over many domestic policy areas, including health and education.
>
> **Test Tip:** The exam often checks that you know “Cardiff = Wales” and “Edinburgh = Scotland”, and that both devolved bodies were formed in 1999.

### Devolution in Northern Ireland and the peace process

Northern Ireland’s situation is different from Scotland and Wales because devolution there is linked to a peace settlement after long conflict. To understand why, you need the basic timeline: partition, political disagreement, and then the Troubles.

### From partition to the Troubles (1922–1969)

In 1913, the British government promised “Home Rule” for Ireland, meaning a self-governing Ireland with its own parliament while still part of the UK. The plan was strongly opposed by Protestants in the north of Ireland, who threatened to resist it by force.

The First World War delayed changes, but conflict continued. In 1916, there was an uprising in Dublin known as the Easter Rising. After further violence, a peace treaty was signed in 1921. In 1922, Ireland became two separate parts:

- Northern Ireland (six counties, mainly Protestant) stayed in the UK
- the rest of Ireland became the Irish Free State and later became a republic in 1949

A Northern Ireland Parliament was established in 1922. However, many people disagreed about whether Northern Ireland should remain part of the UK or become part of a united independent Ireland.

From 1969, conflict grew into what is commonly called the Troubles. This period involved violence and terror campaigns in Northern Ireland and elsewhere, connected to the disagreement between those who wanted Northern Ireland to remain part of the UK and those who wanted full Irish independence and a united Ireland.

In 1972, shortly after the Troubles began in 1969, the Northern Ireland Parliament was abolished.

> **Key Term: The Troubles**
> A period of serious conflict and violence beginning in 1969, linked to disagreement over whether Northern Ireland should remain in the UK or become part of a united Ireland.

### The Northern Ireland Assembly and power-sharing

The modern devolved body in Northern Ireland is the Northern Ireland Assembly. It was established soon after the peace settlement in 1998.

The Assembly meets at Stormont (the name of the Parliament Buildings and the area in Belfast where it sits). It has 108 members, called MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly), elected using a form of proportional representation.

A key feature is that devolution in Northern Ireland is based on power-sharing. This means ministerial jobs are shared among the main parties so that government is not controlled by one community alone.

The Northern Ireland Assembly can make decisions on a range of domestic issues, including:

- education
- agriculture
- the environment
- health
- social services

However, the UK government has the power to suspend devolved institutions, and this has happened several times in Northern Ireland when local political leaders could not work together.

> **Key Term: Power-sharing**
> A system where government positions are shared between major parties, used in Northern Ireland to help ensure both communities are represented.

### The Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement (1998)

The most important named event in the Northern Ireland peace process for the Life in the UK Test is the Good Friday Agreement, also called the Belfast Agreement. It was signed in 1998 and created the basis for a more peaceful political system.

The Agreement aimed to end violence and create a stable way for Northern Ireland to be governed. One of its most important outcomes was the establishment of devolved, power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland.

It also set out a wider approach based on cooperation:

- within Northern Ireland
- between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
- between the UK and the Republic of Ireland

In practical terms for revision, remember the date (1998) and the link to the Assembly.

> **Key Term: Good Friday Agreement (Belfast Agreement)**
> The 1998 peace agreement in Northern Ireland that supported power-sharing government and led to the establishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

### Key dates and interruptions (1998–2007)

For the test, you should be confident with the core sequence:

- 1998: the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement is signed
- 1999: the first Northern Ireland Assembly is elected
- 2002: the Assembly is suspended
- 2007: the Assembly is reinstated

The test may also check that you understand why these institutions matter: they represent an attempt to settle political disagreement through democratic government rather than violence.

### How devolved government fits with UK government

Devolution changes who makes decisions, but not the basic structure of the UK state. The UK Parliament at Westminster remains the main law-making body for the UK and keeps control of major national issues.

In general terms:

- UK-wide control includes defence, foreign affairs, immigration, taxation and social security.
- Devolved administrations often control many public services such as education and health (though the exact powers vary across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).

Each devolved administration has its own civil service. Civil servants work for ministers, are selected on merit, and are expected to be politically neutral.

A good way to revise is to link each nation to its institution and city, then add one or two policy areas it controls. This helps with multiple-choice questions that mix up locations, dates, and powers.

## Key Point Checklist

_This article has covered the following key knowledge points:_

- Devolution transfers certain powers from Westminster to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Reserved matters (such as defence and foreign affairs) stay under UK Parliament/UK Government control
- The Scottish Parliament was formed in 1999, sits in Edinburgh, and has wide law-making powers in non-reserved areas
- The Welsh Assembly was formed in 1999, sits in Cardiff, and controls many public services; since 2011 it can pass laws in 21 areas
- Northern Ireland was created in 1922 when Ireland was divided; the rest of Ireland later became a republic in 1949
- The Troubles began in 1969; the Northern Ireland Parliament was abolished in 1972
- The Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement was signed in 1998 and supported a peace settlement and power-sharing
- The Northern Ireland Assembly was elected in 1999, suspended in 2002, and reinstated in 2007
- The Northern Ireland Assembly sits at Stormont and has 108 MLAs elected by proportional representation
- The UK government can suspend devolved institutions and has done so in Northern Ireland
- Many domestic services (for example education and health) are often managed by devolved administrations

## Key Terms and Concepts

- Devolution
- Reserved matters
- Scottish Parliament
- Welsh Assembly
- The Troubles
- Power-sharing
- Good Friday Agreement (Belfast Agreement)


Contemporary UK - Devolution and the Northern Ireland peace process