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 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
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
A report by a committee of MPs expressed disappointment at the pace at which the coalition government's package of constitutional reforms was being legislated and implemented – without adequate opportunity for scrutiny. The Parliamentary Voting and Constituencies Bill would have a greater impact on Wales than any other nation of the United Kingdom: Wales was projected to lose 10 of its 40 parliamentary seats.
Source: The Implications for Wales of the Government's Proposals on Constitutional Reform, First Report (Session 2010-11), HC 495, House of Commons Welsh Affairs Select Committee/TSO
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Oct
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
A briefing note examined the existing arrangements under which the Welsh Assembly legislated, the new approach if the referendum planned for 2011 approved an extension of the Assembly's powers, and how the move to a referendum had come about.
Source: Paul Bowers, Referendum for Wales: Extending the scope of Assembly powers, Standard Note SN/PC/05685, House of Commons Library
Links: Briefing paper
Date: 2010-Sep
An official commission (chaired by Gerald Holtham) published its final report to the Welsh Assembly Government, demonstrating how a needs-based alternative to the 'Barnett formula' could be made to work in practice, and proposing devolution of limited tax-varying and borrowing powers to Wales.
Source: Independent Commission on Funding and Finance for Wales, Fairness and Accountability: A new funding settlement for Wales, Welsh Assembly Government
Links: Report | Summary | Commission press release | WAG press release | BBC report
Date: 2010-Jul
The new government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on relationships between the Welsh Assembly Government and the United Kingdom government. It said that it would 'engage actively' with the devolution agenda.
Source: Wales and Whitehall: Government Response to the Committee's Eleventh Report, Second Special Report (Session 2010-11), HC 399, House of Commons Welsh Affairs Select Committee/TSO
Links: Response | MPs 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 dropped its opposition to a measure devolving certain housing powers to the Welsh Assembly Government. It said that it had received assurances that the powers would not be used to hinder the sale of social and council housing.
Source: Press release 29 June 2010, Wales Office
Links: Wales Office press release | Welsh Assembly Government press release | BBC report
Date: 2010-Jun
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
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
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 the effective operation of devolution required both the United Kingdom and Welsh governments to share knowledge and understanding. After an initial burst of concentration, Whitehall had lost a focus on the devolution settlement, and too often had displayed poor knowledge and understanding of the specificities of the Welsh settlement.
Source: Wales and Whitehall, Eleventh Report (Session 2009-10), HC 246, House of Commons Welsh Affairs Select Committee/TSO
Links: Report | BBC report
Date: 2010-Mar
The Welsh Assembly Government was given powers to legislate on the assessment of mental health and treatment of mental disorder, and on advocacy services relating to mental health.
Source: The National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Health and Health Services and Social Welfare) Order 2010, National Assembly for Wales/TSO
Links: Order |Explanatory memorandum | WalesOnline report | BBC report
Date: 2010-Feb
A report by a committee of MPs endorsed plans to devolve wide-ranging legislative competence for social housing policy to the National Assembly for Wales.
Source: Proposed National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (Housing and Local Government) Order 2010, Relating to Sustainable Housing, Sixth Report (Session 2009-10), HC 186, House of Commons Welsh Affairs Select Committee/TSO
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Feb
A report by a committee of MPs said that the system for devolving new powers to the Welsh Assembly was working well in overall terms, though it was subject to some delays and lack of transparency.
Source: Review of the LCO Process, Fifth Report (Session 2009-10), HC 155, House of Commons Welsh Affairs Select Committee/TSO
Links: Report | BBC report
Date: 2010-Jan
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
