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When did devolution in the contemporary UK begin?
Scotland and England have a tumultuous history. Westminster entertained legislation about Scottish home rule in 1913 - and though that particular round of demands was interrupted by the First World War, the appetite for political change never died.
War, Union, Devolution
Scotland and England have had a rocky relationship through the years. Read the article below to trace Scotland’s political history with the Union, including contemporary calls for independence from the rest of the United Kingdom.
Alternatively (or in addition to!), you can watch this fun video covering the same periods of history.
The Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament holds the majority of decision-making power within devolved Scotland. Watch the video below to learn a bit more about how it works...and if you’d like, take a virtual tour of the building and its functions!
Environmental Policy in Scotland
Environmental decision-making is one of the major policy areas that has been passed to the Scottish Government as part of devolution. This means that the Scottish Parliament has a great deal of control over land management, agricultural policy, energy investment, and more. Read this article from Colin Reid (a Professor of Environmental Law at University of Dundee) to learn more about why having the environment as a devolved power may matter more and more in the years to come.
Additional Resources (optional)
Bailey, T. 2010. “Scotland’s Environmental Laws since Devolution – From Rhetoric to Reality.” Scottish Environment Link.
Cuthbert, M. & Cuthbert, J. “Science and technology in devolved Scotland: the example of the Scottish Agricultural and Biological Research Institutes.” Quarterly Economic Commentary 29(3): 38-44.
Webb, J. & van der Horst, D. 2021. “Understanding policy divergence after United Kingdom devolution: Strategic action fields in Scottish energy efficiency policy.” Energy Research & Social Science 78.
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