## Learning Outcomes

- Explain what devolution means and which powers stay with the UK Parliament
- Identify the devolved legislatures in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with key dates and locations
- Recall examples of devolved and reserved matters (who controls what)
- Understand the basics of local councils: what they do, how they are funded, and how councillors are elected
- Recognise common exam traps (especially England’s arrangements and Northern Ireland differences)

## Life in the UK Test Syllabus

For the Life in the UK Test, you are expected to understand how power is shared between the UK Parliament, devolved legislatures and local councils, with a focus on the following syllabus points:

- Define devolution and name the devolved legislatures and governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Know the key formation dates: Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly (1999) and Northern Ireland Assembly (after the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement)
- Identify examples of reserved matters (e.g., defence, foreign affairs, immigration, taxation and social security) and devolved areas (e.g., health, education)
- Understand that England does not have its own devolved parliament and relies mainly on Westminster plus local councils (and some regional mayoral bodies)
- Describe what local councils (local authorities) do, how they are funded, and the basic role of mayors and councillors
- Know that local elections are usually held in May and you must be on the electoral register to vote

## 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 is devolution, and which three UK nations have devolved legislatures?
2. Name two policy areas that are usually reserved to the UK Parliament.
3. Where do the Scottish Parliament, Senedd (Welsh Parliament) and Northern Ireland Assembly meet?
4. What is a local authority, and give two services it typically provides.
5. True or false: England has its own devolved parliament similar to Scotland’s.

## Introduction

The UK has more than one level of democratic government. The UK Parliament at Westminster makes laws for the whole UK on many subjects, but since the late 1990s some powers have been devolved to elected bodies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Alongside this, local councils run many day-to-day services in towns, cities and rural areas.

Understanding the difference between devolved legislatures and local councils helps you answer common Life in the UK Test questions about “who is responsible for what”, and about how people take part in local democracy.

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

### Devolved legislatures: what they are and why they exist

Devolution means that some decisions are made closer to where people live. Devolved legislatures can pass laws (or make decisions) in specific policy areas. However, they do not replace the UK Parliament. Westminster remains the supreme law-making body for the UK, and some subjects stay under UK-wide control.

The three devolved legislatures are:

- the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh
- the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) in Cardiff
- the Northern Ireland Assembly in Belfast (at Stormont)

Each devolved legislature works with a devolved government (or executive) that runs public services and develops policy in devolved areas.

> **Key Term: reserved matters**
> Policy areas kept under the control of the UK Parliament and UK Government, not devolved to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
>
> **Test Tip:** Exam questions often list several topics and ask which are _not_ controlled by devolved bodies. If you see defence, foreign affairs or immigration, these are normally reserved to Westminster.

### Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: key facts you must know

Devolution is not identical across the UK. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have different powers and different political arrangements. This is sometimes called “asymmetrical devolution” (different levels of devolution in different parts of the UK).

#### Scotland: Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government

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). MSPs are elected using a form of proportional representation.

The Scottish Parliament can pass laws for Scotland in many areas that are not reserved to Westminster. The Life in the UK Test expects you to recognise typical devolved areas such as:

- **health**
- **education**
- **planning**
- parts of **tax-raising powers**
- **civil and criminal law** (a major difference from England and Wales, which share a legal system)

> **Key Term: Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)**
> An elected representative in the Scottish Parliament.

A simple way to remember Scotland’s position is: if a subject is not reserved, Scotland often has power over it. This includes important parts of the legal system in Scotland.

#### Wales: Senedd (Welsh Parliament) and Welsh Government

In **1999**, Wales gained its own devolved institution in **Cardiff**, the capital city of Wales. The institution was originally known as the **National Assembly for Wales**; it is now commonly called the **Senedd** (Welsh Parliament). It has **60 members**, often still referred to in study materials as **AMs** (Assembly Members). Elections are held every **four years** using a form of proportional representation.

Candidates should know that since **2011**, the Welsh legislature has been able to make laws in **21 areas** without needing agreement from the UK Parliament on those devolved topics. Examples include:

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

Welsh and English can both be used, and official publications are produced in both languages.

> **Key Term: Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament)**
> The devolved legislature in Wales, based in Cardiff, which makes laws in devolved areas.

#### Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Assembly and power-sharing

Northern Ireland has a different and more sensitive political history, which shapes how its institutions work today.

A Northern Ireland Parliament was first established in **1922**, when Ireland was divided, but it was abolished in **1972**, shortly after the Troubles began in **1969**.

The modern Northern Ireland Assembly was established after the **Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement** in **1998**. It meets at **Stormont** in Belfast. The Assembly has **108 members**, called **MLAs** (Members of the Legislative Assembly), elected using a form of proportional representation.

A key point for the test is that Northern Ireland’s devolved government uses a **power-sharing** model. Ministerial positions are shared among the main parties so that government includes representatives from different communities.

The Northern Ireland Assembly can make decisions in areas including:

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

The UK Government can suspend devolved institutions, and Northern Ireland’s Assembly has been suspended on several occasions when local political leaders could not agree.

> **Key Term: Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement (1998)**
> The agreement that helped bring peace to Northern Ireland and led to the creation of the modern Northern Ireland Assembly.
>
> **Test Tip:** If a question mentions that Northern Ireland’s Assembly has been “suspended” at times, that is accurate. Scotland’s and Wales’s devolved bodies are not normally described in this way in test materials.

### What stays with Westminster: reserved powers you should recognise

Even with devolution, the UK Parliament and UK Government keep control over major UK-wide subjects. You should be able to identify these quickly in multiple-choice questions.

Common examples of reserved matters include:

- **defence** and national security
- **foreign affairs**
- **immigration** and nationality
- **taxation** (many taxes are UK-wide, although Scotland and Wales have some income tax and other tax powers)
- **social security** (welfare benefits)

Devolved administrations often control many public services that affect daily life, such as education and health, but the biggest “state” functions—armed forces, borders, and UK-wide welfare—are usually controlled from Westminster.

A useful way to think about it is:

- Devolved: many “domestic services”
- Reserved: “UK-wide state powers” (defence, foreign relations, borders, much taxation and benefits)

### Local councils: what they are, what they do, and how they are elected

Devolved legislatures are national institutions for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Local councils are different: they operate at town/city/county level across the UK, including in England (which has no devolved parliament).

Local government is run by democratically elected councils, often called **local authorities**. Their job is to provide local services. Councils are funded in two main ways:

- money from **central government**
- **local taxes**

Councillors are elected in local elections. In most places, local elections for councillors are held in **May** each year (although not every council elects all councillors every year).

Many candidates stand as representatives of political parties, but independent candidates can also stand.

> **Key Term: local authority**
> A democratically elected council responsible for local services in its area.

#### Typical services provided by local councils

Local authorities provide a range of services. The exact list varies by where you live and how local government is organised, but test questions often focus on the idea that councils run practical services.

Examples commonly associated with local councils include:

- waste collection and recycling services
- local planning decisions (planning permission)
- local roads and transport responsibilities (varies)
- housing-related services (varies)
- leisure services such as parks and sports facilities
- environmental health and some local regulation/licensing

In some parts of the UK, other bodies may deliver certain services (for example, some policing roles and some health services are not run by councils). But in basic Life in the UK terms, think “local daily services”.

#### Different council structures (especially in England)

Local government is not organised the same way everywhere.

In **some areas**, there are **two levels** of council:

- **county councils**
- **district/borough/city councils**

These share responsibilities (for example, one level may handle some services while the other handles different ones). In **most large towns and cities**, there is usually **one main council** that delivers most local services (a single local authority).

London has a special structure:

- **33 local authorities** (including London boroughs)
- plus the **Greater London Authority (GLA)** and the **Mayor of London**, who coordinate policies across the capital.

> **Test Tip:** If you are asked “how many local authorities are there in London?”, the number to remember is **33**, and London also has the **Mayor of London** and the **Greater London Authority**.

#### Mayors: ceremonial vs elected leaders

Many local authorities appoint a **mayor** as a **ceremonial** leader. This mayor represents the council at civic events and has a formal role, but does not necessarily run day-to-day decision-making.

In some places, a mayor is **directly elected** and becomes the effective leader of the local administration. The Life in the UK Test usually expects you to recognise that:

- some mayors are ceremonial
- some mayors are elected with real executive power
- London has a well-known elected Mayor (the Mayor of London)

#### Local democracy and your role

Local councils are a key part of how people participate in democracy in daily life. Voting is part of the responsibilities of citizens and residents who are eligible to vote.

To vote in parliamentary or local elections, you must be on the **electoral register**, which is managed locally (through your local council’s electoral registration office). If you are eligible, you should ensure your details are registered correctly.

Local elections matter because councillors make decisions about issues that directly affect your neighbourhood, such as planning, waste services, and local facilities.

### Putting it together: who does what?

A common exam skill is deciding which level of government is responsible. Use this quick mental checklist:

1. Is it about the whole UK’s international position or borders?  
   Likely **Westminster** (foreign affairs, defence, immigration).

2. Is it about everyday services like schools and hospitals in Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland?  
   Likely **devolved** (education and health are commonly devolved).

3. Is it about your street, bins, local parks, or planning permission?  
   Likely **local council** (local authority).

4. Is it about England-only domestic issues?  
   England has **no devolved parliament**, so it is often **Westminster + local councils** (and sometimes regional bodies).

## Key Point Checklist

_This article has covered the following key knowledge points:_

- Devolution means powers are transferred from Westminster to elected bodies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Reserved matters usually include defence, foreign affairs, immigration, taxation and social security
- The Scottish Parliament was formed in 1999, sits in Edinburgh, and has 129 MSPs
- The Welsh legislature (Senedd) was formed in 1999, is based in Cardiff, and has 60 members; since 2011 it can make laws in devolved areas without UK Parliament agreement
- The Northern Ireland Assembly followed the 1998 Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, meets at Stormont, has 108 MLAs, and uses power-sharing
- England does not have its own devolved parliament; many services are handled by Westminster and local councils
- Local authorities provide local services and are funded by central government and local taxes
- Local elections for councillors are commonly held in May, and many candidates stand for political parties
- Some mayors are ceremonial, while some are directly elected and lead the local administration
- London has 33 local authorities, plus the Greater London Authority and the Mayor of London coordinating policies across the capital

## Key Terms and Concepts

- devolution
- reserved matters
- Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)
- Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament)
- Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement (1998)
- local authority


Parliament and elections - Devolved legislatures and local councils (basics)