Researchers said that the transition from administrative devolution to political devolution had been accomplished smoothly, without financial disruption. Political devolution had generated enormous improvements in process transparency . This contrasted sharply with the pre-devolution situation where the territorial mechanisms operated on the basis of unpublished block rules and had to be inferred and/or guessed at by observers.
Source: David Heald and Alasdair McLeod, The Financial Arrangements for Devolved Government within the United Kingdom, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2004-Nov
An article questioned the extent to which a distinctively Scottish social welfare policy had emerged since devolution. The scope for policy departure was limited in a number of different ways, and there was a need to acknowledge the similarities between New Labour policy in London and in Edinburgh.
Source: Gerry Mooney and Lynne Poole, 'A land of milk and honey?: Social policy in Scotland after devolution', Critical Social Policy, Volume 24 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2004-Nov
A report by a committee of peers examined the increased complexities for the legislative process at Westminster deriving from the nature of the devolution settlement. It said that whenever Westminster legislated exclusively for Wales it was laying the partial foundations for Welsh law to become a distinct jurisdiction.
Source: Devolution: Its Effect on the Practice of Legislation at Westminster, Fifteenth Report (Session 2003-04), HL 192, House of Lords Constitution Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2004-Nov
A report analysed the case for increased fiscal federalism in Scotland. It looked at key issues such as the fiscal relationship between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom, the trade-off between efficiency and equality, and the impact which increased fiscal transparency would have on public policy decisions and service delivery.
Source: Paul Hallwood and Ronald MacDonald, The Economic Case for Fiscal Federalism in Scotland, Fraser of Allander Institute/University of Strathclyde (0141 548 3958)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Sep
A report (by campaigners for greater community participation) examined the experiences of people who had worked with the Scottish Parliament or Executive in its first four years. It highlighted increased participation in the policy-making processes since devolution, but called for deeper and broader consultation and for improved monitoring of participation.
Source: Julia Fitzpatrick, Room for More Views: Sharing power, shaping progress, People & Parliament Trust/Scottish Human Services Trust (0131 538 7717)
Links: Report (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2004-Aug
The Scotland Office published its annual report for 2003-04.
Source: Departmental report 2004, Scotland Office (020 7270 6754)
Links: Report
Date: 2004-May
A report said that there had been high levels of support overall for proposals set out in a consultation document on a Scottish Human Rights Commission. There were, however, areas where less of a consensus was evident. These included whether the body should have enforcement powers.
Source: Fiona MacDonald and Ed Thomson, The Scottish Human Rights Commission: Analysis of consultation responses, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report
Date: 2004-May
A new book provided a progress report on the effect of devolution during the first terms of the Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales.
Source: Alan Trench (ed.), Has Devolution Made a Difference?: The state of the nations 2004, Constitution Unit/University of London, available from Imprint Academic (01392 841600)
Links: Summary | Introduction (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jan
