The human rights watchdog in Scotland examined the realization of human rights in Scotland in comparison with international standards. Although Scotland had made notable progress, it could do better. Outcomes for people were often inconsistent, and there were other 'gaps' that should and could be filled.
Source: Getting it Right? Human rights in Scotland, Scottish Human Rights Commission
Links: Report | Summary | SHRC press release
Date: 2012-Oct
A new book examined the process of devolution undertaken in the United Kingdom since 1997, focusing on the devolution of economic governance. It considered the purported reasons for, and the unintended consequences of, devolution.
Source: Mark Goodwin, Martin Jones, and Rhys Jones, Rescaling the State: Devolution and the geographies of economic governance, Manchester University Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2012-Sep
The Scottish Government published its programme for the 2012-13 parliamentary year. The programme contained 15 bills, including a Referendum Bill providing for a vote on independence in the autumn of 2014. Other bills set out measures to create jobs, improve economic growth, make more free early learning and childcare available, and improve care for older people.
Source: Working for Scotland: The Government's programme for Scotland 2012–2013, Scottish Government
Links: Programme | Scottish Government press release | SNP press release | CBI press release | Children in Scotland press release | SCMA press release | Christian Institute report | Guardian report
Date: 2012-Sep
An article examined the debate over how much further the powers of the Scottish Parliament could be extended, and in particular whether devolution would allow Scotland to have a superior welfare settlement. It said that shortcomings in the steps towards fairness achieved under the existing devolution arrangements highlighted the need for a far-reaching and innovative approach to social justice to be carried out alongside any further discussions of independence. Such an approach could not be taken for granted.
Source: Gill Scott and Sharon Wright, 'Devolution, social democratic visions and policy reality in Scotland', Critical Social Policy, Volume 32 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Jul
The human rights watchdog in Scotland mapped the realization of internationally recognized human rights. Scotland had made notable progress, it had a relatively strong legal and institutional framework for human rights, and there were also some examples of positive strategy and policy direction. But the actual outcomes for people often remained inconsistent. Scotland therefore needed a more systematic approach to assure the realization of human rights in practice.
Source: Why Scotland Needs a National Action Plan for Human Rights, Scottish Human Rights Commission
Links: Report | SHRC press release
Date: 2012-Jun
The Scotland Act 2012 was given Royal assent. The Act provided 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 United Kingdom government published a technical note dealing with the tax-raising powers of the Scottish Government.
Source: Scotland Act 2012, Scotland Office, TSO | Clarifying the Scope of the Scottish Rate of Income Tax, HM Revenue & Customs
Links: Act | Explanatory notes | Technical note | BBC report
Date: 2012-May
A new book examined the relationship between social justice and social policy in Scotland. It considered a wide range of topics and issues, including income inequalities, work and welfare, criminal justice, housing, education, health, and poverty.
Source: Gerry Mooney and Gill Scott (eds.), Social Justice and Social Policy in Scotland, Policy Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2012-Apr
An article examined how and what petitions could contribute to social policy following the introduction of petitions systems by the National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Parliament. In particular, it explored the extent to which petitions systems challenged or replicated existing inequalities; what voices and interests they enabled to be heard; and what impact they could have on social policy.
Source: Catherine Bochel, 'Petitions: different dimensions of voice and influence in the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales', Social Policy and Administration, Volume 46 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Feb
An article examined the implications for social policy of the changing character of statehood in Scotland. Policy-making was 'ensnared in a series of tensions' – not just over the issue of Scottish independence but also, more broadly, tensions between competing principles of social justice and territorial justice, and competing demands between welfare nationalism and competitive nationalism.
Source: Alex Law and Gerry Mooney, 'Devolution in a "stateless nation": nation-building and social policy in Scotland', Social Policy and Administration, Volume 46 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Feb
An article examined the class basis of devolved government in Scotland, and the interactions between class and nationalism.
Source: Alex Law and Gerry Mooney, 'Competitive nationalism: state, class, and the forms of capital in devolved Scotland', Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, Volume 30 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Jan
An article examined the 'economic dividend' of devolution in the United Kingdom. There had been a 'varied and uneven' relationship between regional disparities, spatial economic policy, and decentralization. There was limited evidence for any economic dividend of devolution, because its likely effects were overridden by the role of national economic growth.
Source: Andy Pike, Andres Rodriguez-Pose, John Tomaney, Gianpiero Torrisi, and Vassilis Tselios, 'In search of the "economic dividend" of devolution: spatial disparities, spatial economic policy, and decentralisation in the UK', Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, Volume 30 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Jan
