A report examined the impact of devolution on diverging higher education policies. It called for better dialogue between ministers responsible for higher education from the four governments and for a more equitable formula for funding higher education across the United Kingdom.
Source: Alan Trench, Devolution and Higher Education: Impact and future trends, Universities UK (020 7419 5435)
Links: Report | UUK press release | UCU press release | Leicester University press release
Date: 2008-Dec
The interim report of an official ('Calman') commission said that devolving full fiscal autonomy to Scotland would be inconsistent with the continuation of the United Kingdom.
Source: The Future of Scottish Devolution within the Union: A First Report, Commission on Scottish Devolution (0131 244 9073)
Links: Report | Evidence | Summary | Hansard | Scotland Office press release | BBC report | Telegraph report | FT report
Date: 2008-Dec
The Northern Ireland Office published its 2008 autumn performance report, showing progress against public service agreement targets.
Source: Autumn Performance Report 2008, Cm 7521, Northern Ireland Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Dec
An article examined the way in which strategies for sustainable development had evolved in the context of devolution. It examined the role of strategies for sustainable development as a 'metagovernance' and policy integration device. There was limited evidence of diversity in approaches to sustainable development.
Source: Graham Haughton, Dave Counsell and Geoff Vigar, 'Sustainable development in post-devolution UK and Ireland', Regional Studies, Volume 42 Number 9
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Nov
Members of Parliament voted to establish select committees for each of 8 English regions.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Debate 12 November 2008, columns 851-862, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | NLGN press release | Liberal Democrats press release | BBC report
Date: 2008-Nov
A think-tank paper examined how the Scottish public sector was funded, and the role of the 'Barnett formula'. It considered the options available for funding within the existing arrangements if the Barnett formula were to be scrapped.
Source: Andrew Hughes-Hallett, Jeremy Peat, Andrew Scott, Lesley Sutton and Fabian Zuleeg, Options for Scotland's Future: The Economic Dimension, Hume Occasional Paper 80, David Hume Institute (0131 667 9609)
Links: Paper
Date: 2008-Nov
A new book examined the connexion between nationalism and social policy, based on a study of three states featuring strong nationalist movements – the United Kingdom (Scotland), Canada (Quebec), and Belgium (Flanders).
Source: Daniel Béland and André Lecours, Nationalism and Social Policy: The politics of territorial solidarity, Oxford University Press (01536 741727)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Oct
A report examined the 'Barnett formula', used to allocate public spending between England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Identifiable public spending per head in England was running at £7,535 per annum (2007-08): but in Scotland it was 22 per cent (£1,644) higher, in Wales 14 per cent (£1,042) higher, and in Northern Ireland 30 per cent (£2,254) higher. Such spending gaps were 'impossible to justify' to English taxpayers.
Source: Mike Denham, Unequal Shares: The definitive guide to the Barnett formula, TaxPayers' Alliance (0845 330 9554)
Links: Report | Telegraph report | BBC report
Date: 2008-Sep
The Scottish Government laid out its programme for the year 2008-09, comprising 15 Bills. The programme included proposals for the abolition of council tax, and its replacement by a 3 pence addition to income tax.
Source: Moving Scotland Forward: The government's programme for Scotland 2008-09, Scottish Government, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | Statement | SG press release | BMA press release | LTS press release | Telegraph report | BBC report (1) | BBC report (2) | Guardian report | Inside Housing report | FT report
Date: 2008-Sep
An article examined attempts by the devolved administrations to develop their own agenda for change with respect to the introduction of 'community planning'. More formalized arrangements might be required to support the development of a stronger and broader strategic framework for community planning.
Source: Simon Pemberton and Greg Lloyd, 'Devolution, community planning and institutional decongestion?', Local Government Studies, Volume 34 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Aug
A think-tank report said that disparities in funding across the United Kingdom were becoming an increasing source of tension between the four nations, especially between England and Scotland. It called for the 'Barnett formula' – used to fund the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – to be replaced with a more transparent and equitable funding system.
Source: Iain McLean, Guy Lodge and Katie Schmuecker, Fair Shares: Barnett and the politics of public expenditure, Institute for Public Policy Research (020 7470 6100)
Links: Report | IPPR press release | BBC report
Date: 2008-Jul
A report explained the legal and administrative underpinnings of devolution and how they shaped the health policies pursued in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It identified various kinds of tension building up along administrative and physical borders, and the likelihood of major intergovernmental conflict.
Source: Scott Greer and Alan Trench, Health and Intergovernmental Relations in the Devolved United Kingdom, Nuffield Trust (020 631 8450)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Jul
An article considered a significant policy issue in Northern Ireland – the Review of Public Administration – as a means of examining how policy-making was influenced by macro political factors aimed at stabilizing the power-sharing Executive.
Source: Colin Knox, 'Policy making in Northern Ireland: ignoring the evidence', Policy & Politics, Volume 36 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Jul
An article examined some of the impacts of devolution on the discipline of social policy. Devolution mattered for social policy as a field of research and study, and for the analysis and understanding of developments in social policy. It had a number of implications in terms of comparative and transnational social policy, new sites of analysis, the language of social policy, the production of knowledge, and the development of new policy communities. It also signalled new perspectives based on evolving welfare subjectivities and around questions of territorial justice.
Source: Charlotte Williams and Gerry Mooney, 'Decentring social policy? Devolution and the discipline of social policy: a commentary', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 37 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Jul
The Wales Office published its annual report for 2007-08.
Source: Annual Report 2008, Cm 7404, Wales Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-May
The Scotland Office published its annual report for 2007-08.
Source: Annual Report 2008, Cm 7403, Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate General for Scotland, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-May
The Northern Ireland Office published its annual report for 2007-08.
Source: Departmental Report 2008, Cm 7405, Ministry of Justice, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-May
An article examined the position of quangos in the context of devolution, and the constraints on a comprehensive redistribution of the functions of quangos in the three devolved administrations.
Source: Derek Birrell, 'Devolution and quangos in the United Kingdom: the implementation of principles and policies for rationalisation and democratisation', Policy Studies, Volume 29 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Mar
A new book examined inter-governmental relations in the devolved United Kingdom. It considered why devolution had enabled different approaches to government and policy-making to develop in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland since 1999, despite the fact that a close examination of the structure of devolution suggested that the UK government retained control over most key areas.
Source: Alan Trench (ed.), Devolution and Power in the United Kingdom, Manchester University Press (0161 275 2310)
Links: Summary
Date: 2008-Feb
A think-tank report examined the increasing sense of disaffection among English voters about the post-devolution constitutional settlement. It said that failing to address this new faultline might well have the consequence of fortifying a grievance-fueled English nationalism.
Source: Michael Kenny, Richard English and Richard Hayton, Beyond the Constitution? Englishness in a post-devolved Britain, Institute for Public Policy Research (020 7470 6100)
Links: Report | IPPR press release
Date: 2008-Feb
A report examined how the health systems in the United Kingdom's three devolved administrations had developed, and how their approaches had differed from those in England, since 2003.
Source: Paul Jervis, Devolution and Health, Nuffield Trust (020 631 8450)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Jan
A report examined the values embedded in the health services and policies of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the European Union. It highlighted some very different entrenched values, including commitments to: 'collaboration and collectivism' in Scotland; the very similar 'communication and collectivism' in Wales; democratic participation, neutrality, and the new public health in Northern Ireland – 'having a say rather than having a choice'. All stood apart from England in their commitment to communities and participation rather than markets and technical solutions.
Source: Scott Greer and David Rowland (eds.), Devolving Policy, Diverging Values? The values of the United Kingdom's National Health Services, Nuffield Trust (020 631 8450)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Jan
A think-tank report examined the future role and composition of the National Assembly for Wales.
Source: John Osmond, Assembly to Senedd: The Convention and the move towards legislative powers, Institute of Welsh Affairs (029 2057 5511)
Links: IWA press release
Date: 2008-Jan