A House of Commons briefing paper outlined the structure and powers of the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly. It also looked at the statutory and non-statutory framework for devolution, and at the powers of the United Kingdom Parliament in relation to the devolved institutions. It contained a brief chronology of events and compared the legislative process in each of the bodies.
Source: Matthew Leeke, Chris Sear and Oonagh Gay, An Introduction to Devolution in the UK, Research Paper 03/84, House of Commons Library (web publication only)
Links: HOC Library research paper (pdf)
Date: 2003-Nov
Researchers examined the strategies used by women activists in the devolved governments, and the impacts of constitutional change on women's political roles and identities. Women had managed to 'gender' mainstream debates and promote equality issues. However, the 'extraordinary' politics of Northern Ireland, and gender issues getting lost in the broader equalities agenda, remained areas of concern.
Source: Fiona Mackay and Elizabeth Meehan with Tahyna Donaghy and Paul Chaney, Gender and Constitutional Change, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2003-Nov
The Scottish Executive responded to a report on the founding principles of the Scottish Parliament. It said that devolution had delivered genuine achievements in Scotland, and that having an accessible and transparent Parliament had been vital to this process. It said that the first Parliament had passed 62 Bills, compared to (on average) 4 or 5 purely Scottish Bills per year dealt with by the Westminster Parliament prior to devolution.
Source: Founding Principles of the Scottish Parliament: Scottish Executive response to the report of the Procedures Committee of the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Response (pdf) | SE press release | Procedures Committee Report
Date: 2003-Aug
An analysis of the Scottish Parliament elections held in May 2003 showed that 57 per cent of those who abstained from voting did so in part because they did not trust politicians to keep their promises.
Source: John Curtice and Martin Boon, Scottish Elections Research, May-June 2003, Electoral Commission (020 7271 0500)
Links: Report (pdf) | Electoral Commission press release
Date: 2003-Jun
The Scottish Executive announced that full implementation of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 would take place by 1 January 2005 one year earlier than set out in the legislation.
Source: Press release 9.6.03, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: SE press release
Date: 2003-Jun
The Prime Minister announced the creation of a new Department for Constitutional Affairs, incorporating the Wales and Scotland Offices, as well as taking over most of the functions of the Lord Chancellor's Department (which would be abolished). After some confusion, it was clarified that the duties of the Secretaries of State for Wales and Scotland would be combined with other cabinet posts, outside the new Department. Campaigners said the changes underlined the need for a written constitution.
Source: Press release 12.6.03, 10 Downing Street (020 7270 1234) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 18.6.03, columns 357-372, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Press release 18.6.03, Charter88 (020 8880 6088)
Links: Downing Street press release | Hansard | Charter88 press release | Constitution Unit press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Jun
A report examined the institutional relationship between constitutional watchdogs and Parliament, both at Westminster and in the Scottish Parliament. It recommended more systematic use by Parliament of the information provided by constitutional watchdogs in annual reports and evidence sessions.
Source: Oonagh Gay and Barry Winetrobe, Officers of Parliament: Transforming the role, Constitution Unit/University of London, available from Imprint Academic (01392 841600)
Links: Constitution Unit homepage
Date: 2003-Jun
A partnership agreement between Labour and Liberal Democrat MSPs was published, proposing a wide range of policies for the Scottish Executive for its next four-year term. It followed the outcome of the 1 May 2003 Scottish Parliament election, which left no party with an overall majority. The programme included the introduction of proportional representation in local council elections in 2007.
Source: A Partnership for a Better Scotland: Joint statement by the leaders of the Scottish Labour Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Statement (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2003-May
The new Scottish Executive (following Scottish Parliament elections on 1 May 2003) announced its legislative programme. Among the first Bills would be ones dealing with vulnerable witnesses (to improve their treatment by the justice system); National Health Service reform (to improve the effectiveness of health services, legislate for NHS reform, abolish NHS Trusts and establish community health partnerships); and primary medical services (to implement a new contract for providers of general medical services). Ten further Bills were promised for 2003-04.
Source: Press release 28.5.03, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: SE press release | Text of First Minister's statement | News report
Date: 2003-May
A paper reviewed the development of the Scottish Parliament between 1999 and 2003. It said that, despite having limited powers, the parliament had created distinctive policies in a number of areas - including abolishing upfront tuition fees for students, and introducing free personal care for the elderly.
Source: David McCrone, Peeblin' Wi' Stanes: Assessing the Scottish Parliament, 1999-2003, Institute of Governance/University of Edinburgh (web publication)
Links: Paper
Date: 2003-Apr
The Scottish Executive published a consultation paper setting out the remit, functions, and structure of a Scottish Human Rights Commission.
Source: The Scottish Human Rights Commission: Consultation paper, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Consultation Paper | Consultation Paper (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2003-Feb
