Scotland within the UK and EU: the work and

welfare issue

Small countries and their political variables within

globalised policy - ‘Politics matters’

Welfare state expresses the British nation, but political imperative

for asymmetric devolution to Scotland,

Wales and Northern Ireland (1999)

Scottish devolution

Powers to make laws in most areas (but not foreign affairs, defence, social security, employment and business law, broadcasting)

Most money in block grant from UK

Scottish members continue to sit in UK Parliament, which is the only law-

making body for England

Social security not devolved, including tax credits, housing benefit, New Deals,

welfare to work schemes

3 areas of social security policy match up with devolution - some discretion over

the partially contested areas

Uncontested(eg flat-rate pensions,

hospital treatment)

partially contested(eg personal care, prescription

drugs)

contested(eg housing provision,

earnings-related pensions)

Work and welfare: training and skills policy devolved,

benefits policy and employment tests

reserved

Policy driven by New Deal, and run through

a shared administrative space in which officials collaborate and

devolved/reserved functions are blurred

2007 Scottish Electionsseats % vote

SNP 47 31Labour 46 29Conservative 17 14Liberal 16 11 DemocratGreen 2 4Independent 1 (total 129 seats)

SNP policies (Alex Salmond First Minister)

Single minister for finance and economics (John Swinney Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth)

Local income tax

referendum on independence

separate civil service

SNP on welfare to work

business friendly

rationalisation of structures (enterprise network and local government)

economic needs, skills training and education to be aligned better

Holyrood Parliament Building

constructed 1999-2004

architect Enric Miralles (died 2000)

cost £420m (Euro 630m)