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Devolution is the process of transferring power from central government to a regional level to the meet demands from sections of the community for greater control over their own affairs. On September the 11th 1997, exactly seven hundred years after the Battle of Stirling Bridge, the Scottish electorate overwhelmingly voted in "Yes" to devolution for Scotland. This process allowed for the creation of a Scottish Parliament (the first since 1707). |
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Left: A section from the first page of the Scotland Bill produced on December the 18th 1997.
The Scotland bill passed through the long legislative process in the House of Commons and the House of Lords and received Royal assent on November the 19th 1998. Click on the image for a full size picture (80kb). |
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The new parliament beginning in June 1999 has been given the responsibilty of
overseeing: the Scottish branch of the health sevice, education, local government,
social work, housing regeneration, building control, economic development and
some transport affairs. In addition, forestry, fisheries, agriculture, food standards, sport,
arts and some legal affairs will be legislated upon by the Scottish Parliament. While most Scottish nationalists welcome the changes, they are not good enough. The parliament is still subject to the restrictions of London treasury. The motive for devolution is also questionable. The Westminster government wants to hang on to Scotland - control of Scotland means control over Scotland's substantial oil reserves. Treasury figures in February 1997 revealed that the "Continental Shelf" has contributed £27 billion to the exchequer since 1979. The "continental shelf" is of course the big expanse of water known to most people as North Sea, which comes under the jurisdiction of Scots law, hence any oil there (according to international law) belongs to Scotland. It is often said that "power devolved is power retained" and therefore the government hopes the new system of will prolong Scotland's links to her dominant neighbour. Devolution is not good enough for Scotland. It enables the London based government to control the most important offices of government. Defence, foreign affairs, the constitution, border controls, employment legislation, social security, broadcasting will all lack Scottish input. Scotland will still be without a voice in European affairs. Most importantly macroeconomic, monetary and fiscal affairs will be run from London. Further change is needed to allow the Scots the chance to reach their full potential. The devolved parliament is a step in the right direction. However, in comparison to Westminster the Scottish Parliament is powerless. With independence all major decisions can be taken in Scotland, by Scots and in the interests of the people of Scotland.
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