An article (in the 27th British Social Attitudes report) examined support for Scottish independence and attitudes to the union between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom on both sides of the border. There was evidence of growing discontent in England about Scotland's share of public spending, and increasing support for the idea of an English Parliament. In Scotland there was little evidence of increasing support for independence.
Source: Rachel Ormston and John Curtice, <:'Resentment or contentment? Attitudes towards the Union ten years on', in Alison Park and Elizabeth Clery (eds.), British Social Attitudes: The 27th Report, SAGE Publications
Links: Summary
Date: 2010-Dec
An article examined the debate about the financing of devolved government in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It looked at six options that in principle were open to the new United Kingdom government. The range of options was narrower than it often appeared.
Source: Alan Trench, 'The options for devolution finance: the choices for the new government', Political Quarterly, Volume 81 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Nov
The Scotland Bill was published. The Bill was designed to provide the Scottish Parliament with new tax and borrowing powers – including setting a Scottish income tax rate each year covering approximately 35 per cent of its revenue spending. The Bill was accompanied by a policy statement setting out the government's plans for implementing the recommendations of the Calman Commission (published in June 2009) on devolution to Scotland.
Source: Scotland Bill, Scotland Office/TSO | Strengthening Scotland's Future, Cm 7973, Scotland Office/TSO
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | Policy statement | Hansard | Scotland Office press release | Scottish Government press release | SNP press release | CIOT press release | BBC report | Morning Star report | Guardian report | Public Finance report
Date: 2010-Nov
A paper examined the evidence for an 'economic dividend' of devolution. There was limited evidence for such an effect: but the question was difficult to determine because of the overriding role of national economic growth in shaping the pattern of spatial disparities.
Source: Andy Pike et al., In Search of the 'Economic Dividend' of Devolution: Spatial disparities, spatial economic policy and decentralisation in the UK, Discussion Paper 62, Spatial Economics Research Centre/London School of Economics
Links: Paper
Date: 2010-Nov
An article examined 'statistically significant' differences between public service outcomes in England, Scotland, and Wales. Differences were attributable, at least in part, to policy divergence in the three countries since devolution in 1999 – with implications for assessments of the impacts of devolution and public service reform strategies.
Source: Rhys Andrews and Steve Martin, 'Regional variations in public service outcomes: the impact of policy divergence in England, Scotland and Wales', Regional Studies, Volume 44 Number 8
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Oct
An article examined intergovernmental relations and health policy in the wake of devolution. It identified 'bottom-up' issues, in which health policy divergence created intergovernmental friction, and 'top-down' issues, in which broader conflicts affected health. Mechanisms of co-ordination and dispute resolution were 'probably inadequate' for managing conflict.
Source: Scott Greer and Alan Trench, 'Intergovernmental relations and health in Great Britain after devolution', Policy & Politics, Volume 38 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Oct
The Scottish Government published its legislative programme for 2010-11. It included proposals to: change the law on double jeopardy that prevented a person being tried twice for the same crime; improve the regulation of private rented housing; improve the protection of people from forced marriages; and give the public water provider, Scottish Water, more commercial freedom. Plans to hold a referendum on independence before the 2011 election were withdrawn.
Source: Delivering for Scotland: The Government's programme for Scotland 2010-2011, Scottish Government
Links: Report | Summaries of Bills | Scottish Government press release | SNP press release | BBC report | Telegraph report | Inside Housing report
Date: 2010-Sep
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on communication between the United Kingdom and Scottish governments.
Source: Scotland and the UK: Cooperation and communication between governments – Government Response to the Committee's Fourth Report, First Special Report (Session 2010-11), HC 403, House of Commons Scottish Affairs Select Committee/TSO
Links: Response | MPs report
Date: 2010-Jul
A think-tank report said that since the Scottish Parliament was established in 1999, Scotland's politicians had neglected to address the deep-seated social and economic problems faced by the country. The report called for a new approach to politics in Scotland, based on honesty in measuring performance, radicalism in policy-making, and a 'generational truce' on the constitutional issue.
Source: Tom Miers, The Devolution Distraction: How Scotland s constitutional obsession leads to bad government, Policy Exchange
Links: Report | Telegraph report
Date: 2010-Jul
A briefing paper examined proposals that had emerged in Scotland and Wales making contrasting cases for reform of the way their national administrations' public expenditure was financed.
Source: Funding the United Kingdom s Devolved Administrations, Briefing Note 82/10, Northern Ireland Assembly
Links: Briefing
Date: 2010-Jul
The new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government announced (in the Queen's Speech) plans for a Scotland Bill, designed to implement recommendations of the Final Report of the Commission on Scottish Devolution (the 'Calman Commission').
Source: Queen's Speech, 25 May 2010
Links: Text of Speech | Scottish Government press release | SNP press release | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2) | Telegraph report
Date: 2010-May
A think-tank report examined how devolution had changed the United Kingdom since 1997. It said that devolution to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland had been a 'landmark' reform: but that it would be tested by the fact that the new coalition government in the UK lacked a strong mandate in Scotland and Wales, yet was set to impose stringent public spending cuts on the devolved administrations.
Source: Guy Lodge and Katie Schmuecker (eds.), Devolution in Practice 2010: Public policy differences in the UK, Institute for Public Policy Research
Links: Summary | IPPR press release
Date: 2010-May
A report examined trends in attitudes by people in Scotland to government, the economy, and public services. People trusted the Scottish Government to act in Scotland's best interests, rather than the United Kingdom government, by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Source: Rachel Ormston, Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2009 Core Module: Attitudes to Government, the Economy and Public Services in Scotland, Scottish Government
Links: Report | Summary | Scottish Government press release
Date: 2010-May
An article examined initiatives developed by the government, research funders, and universities to promote better linkages between research and policy within Scotland.
Source: Tobias Jung, Sandra Nutley, Sarah Morton and Ann Millar, 'Linking research and policy in Scotland', Evidence & Policy, Volume 6 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-May
A series of non-binding agreements was published between the United Kingdom Government and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, setting out the principles underlying relations between them. It superseded the version published in 2001.
Source: Devolution: Memorandum of Understanding and Supplementary Agreements Between the United Kingdom Government, the Scottish Ministers, the Welsh Ministers, and the Northern Ireland Executive Committee, Cm 7864, Wales Office/TSO
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Mar
A report by a committee of MPs said that structural change alone would not result in better relations between the United Kingdom and Scottish governments. Closer co-operation would only be achieved if backed by political will.
Source: Commission on Scottish Devolution, Third Report (Session 2009-10), HC 255, House of Commons Scottish Affairs Select Committee/TSO
Links: Report | BBC report
Date: 2010-Mar
A report by a committee of MPs said that communication between the United Kingdom and Scottish governments at a ministerial and official level appeared to work well: nonetheless more could be done to keep Scottish interests on the Whitehall agenda.
Source: Scotland and the UK: Cooperation and Communication Between Governments, Fourth Report (Session 2009-10), HC 256, House of Commons Scottish Affairs Select Committee/TSO
Links: Report | Scottish Government press release
Date: 2010-Mar
Agreement was reached on a protocol setting out how the four administrations of the United Kingdom would seek to avoid disputes; and where this proved impossible, how they would be resolved.
Source: Protocol for Avoidance and Resolution of Disputes, Cabinet Office/Scottish Government/Welsh Assembly Government/Northern Ireland Executive
Links: Protocol | Scottish Government press release | Scotland Office press release | BBC report
Date: 2010-Mar
An article examined policy development under the Scottish National Party (SNP) government, focusing on education policy. As a minority government the SNP needed to govern on the basis of co-operation and consensus. It had presented itself as a party with capacity for government but limited by the restricted autonomy of devolution. The ability to pass large amounts of legislation was more challenging for a minority government. Building new relationships with partners had been a key part of the SNP's approach to governing. This marked a shift in governing style in Scotland, highlighting the importance of 'discourse' where texts (including speech) were used to promote policy aims and agendas.
Source: Jonathan Bradbury and Ian Stafford, 'Nationalism, governance and policymaking in Scotland: the Scottish National Party (SNP) in power', Public Money and Management, Volume 30 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Mar
The Scottish Government began consultation on a draft Bill designed to give people in Scotland a vote on two questions: whether the Scottish Parliament should have more devolved responsibility; and whether there should be an additional extension of power to enable Scotland to become an independent country.
Source: Scotland's Future: Draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill – Consultation Paper, Scottish Government
Links: Consultation document | Scottish Government press release | SNP press release | Scotland Office press release | Guardian report | BBC report
Date: 2010-Feb
An article examined public service behaviour during the early post-implementation period of the 2002 Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act. It examined the extent to which freedom of information was generating new arrangements for managing information, thereby supporting the government's broader modernization agenda.
Source: John Taylor and Eleanor Burt, 'How do public bodies respond to freedom of information legislation? Administration, modernisation and democratisation', Policy & Politics, Volume 38 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Feb
Five linked studies examined the impact of devolution on the most disadvantaged people and places. Despite falling poverty and improving employment levels in the devolved countries, the most significant progress could be ascribed to the use of reserved (United Kingdom) powers.
Source: Dave Adamson, The Impact of Devolution: Area-Based Regeneration Policies in the UK, Joseph Rowntree Foundation | David Bell, The Impact of Devolution: Long-Term Care Provision in the UK, Joseph Rowntree Foundation | Paul Bivand, Laurie Bell, Lovedeep Vaid, Danielle Whitehurst and Ken Wan, The Impact of Devolution: Employment and Employability, Joseph Rowntree Foundation | Guy Palmer, The Impact of Devolution: Indicators of Poverty and Social Exclusion, Joseph Rowntree Foundation | Steve Wilcox and Suzanne Fitzpatrick with others, The Impact of Devolution: Housing and Homelessness, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Links: Summary | Report (1) | Report (2) | Report (3) | Report (4) | Report (5) | JRF press release | Community Care report | New Start report
Date: 2010-Jan
