Devolved, reserved and excepted matters facts for kids
In the United Kingdom, some decisions about how things are run are made by the UK Parliament in London. But other decisions are made closer to home by the governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
When the UK Parliament gives power to Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland to make their own laws on certain topics, these topics are called devolved matters. It's like sharing responsibilities.
However, some topics are kept only for the UK Parliament to decide. These are called reserved matters (or excepted matters in Northern Ireland). This means the UK Parliament still has the final say on these important areas for the whole country.
Contents
Sharing Power in the UK
The idea of sharing power, or "devolution," means that the UK Parliament has given some of its law-making abilities to the governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This allows each part of the UK to make decisions that are best for their own people.
Even though powers are shared, the UK Parliament can still make laws for all parts of the United Kingdom, even on devolved topics. This is because the UK Parliament has the highest authority.
How Devolution Works
Laws passed by the UK Parliament set out which powers are given to each country. These laws also list the topics that remain "reserved" for the UK Parliament.
For Scotland and Wales, the rule is usually: if a topic is not specifically listed as "reserved," then it is "devolved." This means the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Senedd can make laws about it.
In Northern Ireland, the system is a bit different. There are "reserved matters" and "excepted matters." "Excepted matters" are topics that are very unlikely to ever be devolved.
What Each Country Controls
The governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland can make their own laws on many important topics. These include:
- Farming, fishing, and forests
- Culture, like museums and arts
- Helping the economy grow
- Education and training
- Protecting the environment
- Fire and rescue services
- Food safety
- Health and health services
- Housing
- Local government (how towns and cities are run)
- Public services
- Social welfare (support for people)
- Sports and recreation
- Tourism
- Town planning (how places are built)
- Water and flood protection
In Scotland and Northern Ireland, justice and policing are also devolved. This means they have their own laws and systems for these areas.
What the UK Parliament Keeps
The UK Parliament keeps control over certain major topics for the whole United Kingdom. These are called reserved matters. They are divided into two types:
- General reservations cover big issues that are always handled by the UK Parliament in London. These include:
* The Royal Family (the Crown) * The UK Parliament itself * How political parties are registered and funded * Decisions about peace or war * Relationships with other countries (international relations) * International trade and helping other countries * The UK's Civil Service (government workers) * Defence (the armed forces) * Treason (serious crimes against the country)
- Specific reservations cover other policy areas that only the UK Parliament can make laws about. These include:
* Currency (money) * Immigration and nationality * Taxation (most taxes) * National insurance (money for benefits) * Elections for the UK Parliament * National security (keeping the country safe) * Nuclear energy and space * Postal services * Aviation (air travel) * Broadcasting (TV and radio) and internet services * The National Lottery * Copyright and intellectual property * Units of measurement (like metres and kilograms)
In Wales, the legal system for England and Wales is mostly a reserved matter. This includes courts, judges, and legal processes. However, the Senedd can create its own special courts for devolved topics.
Sometimes, there can be tricky situations. For example, in Scotland, the Scottish Government controls funding for Scottish Gaelic TV, but broadcasting rules are a reserved matter for the UK Parliament.
Special Rules for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has a unique history of devolution. Its powers were first set out in 1920. After some periods where the UK Parliament took back control (called "direct rule"), the current system was set up by the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
This Act lists "excepted matters" and "reserved matters."
- Excepted matters are topics that are almost certainly never going to be devolved to Northern Ireland. These include the Crown, Parliament, international relations, defence, and national security.
- Reserved matters are topics that could possibly be devolved in the future, but for now, they are handled by the UK Parliament. These include things like civil aviation, postal services, financial services, and telecommunications.
Policing and Justice in Northern Ireland
For a long time, policing and justice in Northern Ireland were controlled by the UK Parliament. But in 2010, many of these powers were transferred to the Northern Ireland Assembly. This means the Assembly now makes decisions about:
- Criminal law
- Policing
- Prosecutions (bringing people to court)
- Courts
- Prisons and probation
However, some policing and justice matters are still reserved for the UK Parliament. These include serious organised crime, drug classification, and the security of explosives. Other matters, like extradition (sending criminals to other countries) and military justice, remain "excepted matters."
Consistency with Great Britain
Northern Ireland tries to keep its rules similar to Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) in three areas:
- Social security (benefits)
- Child support
- Pensions
Even though these are technically devolved, Northern Ireland usually follows the policies set by the UK Parliament to ensure things are consistent across the whole United Kingdom.
Images for kids
-
Northern Ireland
