A think-tank report examined the 'profound implications' of devolution, and differentiated policy-making, for public services. England had increased its expenditure on health and education at a faster rate than the rest of the United Kingdom since devolution.
Source: John Adams and Katie Schmuecker (eds.), Devolution in Practice 2006: Public policy differences within the UK, Institute for Public Policy Research, available from Central Books (0845 458 9911)
Links: Summary | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Dec
The Northern Ireland Office published its autumn performance report for 2005, showing progress towards achieving its public service agreement targets.
Source: Autumn Performance Report 2005, Cm 6720, Northern Ireland Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Dec
A report by a committee of MPs welcomed plans for a Bill to clarify the devolution settlement for Wales.
Source: Government White Paper: Better Governance for Wales, First Report (Session 2005-06), HC 551, House of Commons Welsh Affairs Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Dec
The government published a Bill giving the Welsh Assembly more powers. After the Assembly elections in 2007, the Assembly would be able to acquire enhanced legislative powers within subject matters approved by Parliament. The Bill also held out the prospect of full law-making powers in the future, subject to a referendum.
Source: Government of Wales Bill, Wales Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | HOC Library research paper | Wales Office press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Dec
An article said that the impact of devolution on the health systems of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland was almost impossible to gauge, due to a lack of information needed to make meaningful comparisons.
Source: Arturo Alvarez-Rosete, Gwyn Bevan, Nicholas Mays and Jennifer Dixon, 'Effect of diverging policy across the NHS', British Medical Journal, 22 October 2005
Links: Article | Kings Fund press release
Date: 2005-Oct
An article said that greater attention needed to be given to incorporating regional priorities in national spending programmes, and developing a more coherent approach to regional strategy making.
Source: Sarah Ayres and Graham Pearce, 'Building regional governance in England: the view from Whitehall', Policy & Politics, Volume 33 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Oct
A new book considered whether the people and politics of modern Scotland were shaped by a radical, tolerant and egalitarian national identity.
Source: Gregor Gall, The Political Economy of Scotland: Red Scotland? Radical Scotland?, University of Wales Press (029 2049 6899)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Oct
An article examined the role of business interests within the devolved political and governmental arrangements introduced by New Labour. It focused on the involvement of business in shaping post-16 education and training policy in Wales.
Source: Nick Phelps, Dave Valler and Andy Wood, 'Stealing the skills agenda? Devolution, business and post-16 education and training in Wales', Policy & Politics, Volume 33 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Oct
A report said that people living in the most deprived areas of Scotland showed lower interest in political participation, and were less likely to take up opportunities for involvement.
Source: Stephen Hope and Susan King, Public Attitudes to Participation, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2005-Aug
A paper said that the White Paper 'Better Governance for Wales' offered the prospect of addressing the flaws in the existing devolution arrangements, by offering a step-by-step enhancement of the powers of the National Assembly for Wales.
Source: Alan Trench, Better Governance for Wales: An analysis of the White Paper on devolution for Wales, Constitution Unit/University of London, available from Imprint Academic (01392 841600)
Links: Paper (pdf)
Date: 2005-Aug
A report said that the Scottish Executive needed to work harder to engage with all sectors of society, in particular members of the public and minority ethnic communities.
Source: Linda Nicholson, Civic Participation Activity in the Scottish Executive: Results of two mapping exercises, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2005-Aug
The Northern Ireland Office published its annual report for 2004-05.
Source: Departmental Report 2005, Cm 6546, Northern Ireland Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jul
A new book described and analyzed social policy in Scotland since devolution in 1999.
Source: Gerry Mooney and Gill Scott (eds.), Exploring Social Policy in the 'New' Scotland, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Jul
The Wales Office published its annual report for 2004-05.
Source: Annual Report 2005, Cm 6545, Wales Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jul
A new book explored the future of devolution, by examining how it had altered politics in the parts of the United Kingdom that experienced it, and also in the UK as a whole.
Source: Alan Trench (ed.), The Dynamics of Devolution: The state of the nations 2005, Constitution Unit/University of London, available from Imprint Academic (01392 841600)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Jul
The Scotland Office published its annual report for 2004-05.
Source: Annual Report 2005, Cm 6544, Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate General for Scotland, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jun
The government published a White Paper proposing changes to the Government of Wales Act 1998, including the creation of a new executive structure for the Welsh Assembly, and giving the Assembly enhanced legislative powers.
Source: Better Governance for Wales, Cm 6582, Wales Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: White Paper (pdf) | Wales Office press release | WAG press release | Hansard | Electoral Commission press release | ERS press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jun
An article examined the effect of devolution on local government in Scotland. It said that Scottish central?local relations continued to be characterized by a sense of mistrust of local government, especially among civil servants and a continuing desire for central control of key policy agendas.
Source: Mark McAteer and Michael Bennett, 'Devolution and local government: evidence from Scotland', Local Government Studies, Volume 31 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Jun
A book chapter examined developments in social policy in Northern Ireland between 1999 and 2004.
Source: Eithne McLaughlin, 'Governance and social policy in Northern Ireland (1999-2004): the devolution years and postcript', Social Policy Review 17: Analysis and debate in social policy, 2005, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Table of contents
Date: 2005-Jun
A new book provided the first systematic study of law-making by the three devolved United Kingdom legislatures.
Source: Robert Hazell and Richard Rawlings (eds.), Devolution, Law Making and the Constitution, Imprint Academic (01392 841600)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-May
The government announced plans (in the Queen's speech) for a Government of Wales Amendment Bill. The Bill would separate the legislative and executive arms of the National Assembly for Wales, and redistribute powers between the two arms. It would also introduce enhanced legislative powers for the Assembly.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Debate 17 May 2005, columns 29-31, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard
Date: 2005-May
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on draft legislation (subsequently abandoned) to introduce elected regional assemblies.
Source: Government Response to the Committee's First Report of Session 2004-05 on the Draft Regional Assemblies Bill, First Special Report (Session 2004-05), HC 459, House of Commons Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Mar
A research report said that 'significantly different' approaches to key public policy issues had emerged in Scotland and Wales since devolution, as the new administrations had rejected consumer choice and diversity in favour of professionalism and uniformity.
Source: Michael Keating, Linda Stevenson and John Loughlin, Devolution and Public Policy: Divergence or Convergence?, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: ESRC press release
Date: 2005-Mar
A report said that England was largely 'invisible' to Whitehall civil servants, despite the big changes that had been brought about by devolution. But its concerns might become more important if parts of England became more vociferous in their demand for changes to the central funding formula for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Source: James Mitchell with Robert Hazell, Roger Masterman and John Rhodes, Devolution and the Centre, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: ESRC press release
Date: 2005-Feb
A report by a committee of MPs said that plans for regional government in England had not had the full support of all government departments. It said that the way in which any future elected regional assemblies reconciled and integrated their economic, social and environmental goals should be determined by the balance of resources available to them, rather than how their purposes were defined in the legislation. Legislation setting up regional assemblies should circumscribe their activities to avoid any confusion or overlap with the role of existing local government.
Source: The Draft Regional Assemblies Bill, First Report (Session 2004-05), HC 62, House of Commons Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jan