Democracy in Scotland National Qualifications

Today we will… Revise the history behind the creation of the Scottish Parliament. Identify the different powers of the Scottish Parliament. Describe the Scotland Act 2012

Success Criteria I can as part of a group to identify the key points in the creation of the Scottish Parliament. I can categorise devolved and reserved powers and create a mind map showing examples. Some will exemplify the devolved powers by adding up to date examples of laws. I can paraphrase the main terms of the Scotland Act 2012.

The Scottish Parliament 1.What do we already know? Task What do you know about the Scottish Parliament? The Scottish Parliament When doing feedback from this task, make sure that pupils know about the creation of the parliament, referendum and devolved and reserved powers.

‘There shall be a Scottish Parliament...’ The people of Scotland were asked in 1997 to vote either ‘for’ or ‘against’ a system of devolution. The term ‘devolution’ means to pass down power, and devolution would mean that Scotland would have some of her own powers to make laws in certain areas. These laws would be made in a ‘Scottish Parliament’. The vote, where a single question is asked to all the people, is called a referendum.

The Scottish people voted in favour of a system of devolution and therefore in 1999 the Scottish Parliament was set up. Today’s Scottish Parliament can make laws on matters that are devolved. In other words, they can make laws on areas that have been passed to Scotland from the UK Parliament so that Scotland can make the decision.

Matters that are not devolved cannot be dealt with by the Scottish Parliament and these are ‘reserved’ by the UK Parliament in Westminster. Reserved matters mean that the UK Parliament have kept some of the power to change laws in certain areas. Therefore in a system of devolution, the Scottish Parliament makes some of the decisions for Scotland and the UK Parliament make some of the decisions too.

So… The SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT in EDINBURGH passes laws on DEVOLVED MATTERS THE UK PARLIAMENT in LONDON passes laws on RESERVED MATTERS

Task 2:Powers of the Scottish Parliament You are going to be shown a series of different images. With your shoulder partner, decide which are devolved powers and which are reserved. Social Target: contributing ideas Academic Target: to categorize the different powers of the Scottish Parliament.

1. 3. 2. 6. 4. 5. 8. 1. Agriculture 2. Education 3. Health 4. sport the and the arts 5. housing 6. defence 7. social security 8. local government 7.

Devolved Powers Health Education and Training Local Government Social Work and Housing policy Law and Home Affairs (except drugs and firearms) Environment Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Sport and the Arts Economic Development and Transport 11

Reserved Powers Defence Foreign affairs Economic policy Social security (benefits, pensions) Immigration Other issues - abortion (for now anyway), firearms, drug control, etc. 12

Task 3: Devolved and Reserved Powers Create two mind maps. One should show reserved matters and the other devolved matters. You can use pictures to illustrate your mind map- this may help you to remember later on when you are required to study. Extension: On the devolved powers mind map, try to add any laws that the Scottish Parliament have passed.

2012 Scotland Act As a result of the Scotland Act 2012, the Scottish Parliament has been granted extra powers. Legislation on air guns, drink-driving, speed-limits and they will be able to borrow up to £5 billion. These powers will come into effect in 2016.

2014 Independence Referendum In 2014, the people of Scotland were asked if Scotland should be independent or not 55% voted NO and 45% voted YES So, Scotland remains as part of the UK

The Vow However, before the vote, the leaders of the Conservative Party, Labour and the Liberal Democrats promised that in the event of a NO vote, Scotland would be given more DEVOLVED POWERS.

The Smith Commission and the Scotland Bill So, after the NO vote, a group of experts were asked to look into giving the Scottish Parliament more powers…this was called the Smith Commission. They recommended that Scotland be given various new powers…

The Smith Commission and the Scotland Bill Including new powers to create welfare benefits and change existing ones (but not universal credit) The power to change laws on abortion Powers to collect some taxes (but not income tax)

Views on this… The SNP believe that the leaders of the bug three UK parties failed to meet the promises they made in “The Vow”. The video you are about to see is of three SNP councillors burning a copy of the Smith Commission Report:

Views on this… So clearly, SNP not happy – they want FULL INDEPENDENCE Other main parties happy for Scotland to get additional powers but do not want Independence

Laws passed by Scottish Parliament… Health Smoking Ban (2005) – this banned smoking in enclosed public places Abolition of Prescription Charges (2012) – means that no-one in Scotland has to pay for prescriptions Minimum Pricing of Alcohol (2012) – set a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol Alcohol etc. Act (2010) – end to “happy hour” and crack down on advertising alcohol Justice Offensive Behaviour at Football (2012) – tougher penalties for sectarian crimes Marriage and Civil Partnership Act (2014) – gay marriage legalised in Scotland Forced Marriage etc. Act (2011) – law to protect people from being forced into marriage (by parents for example)

Laws passed by Scottish Parliament… Education Curriculum for Excellence (2007) – New curriculum which encourages promoting life skills which will be useful after school and changed qualifications from Standard Grade to Nationals and introduced New Highers Transport Trams introduced in Edinburgh – improve travel in the capital. In use from 2013. Sport and the Arts Commonwealth Games Act (2008) - Scottish Parliament passed law to crack down on “ticket touts” Environment Climate Change Act (2009) – a law which introduced targets for Scotland to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

Knowledge Question Describe, in detail, four devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament. 8 marks Nat 5 Remember, use the PEE formula POINT – name a devolved power EXPLAIN – describe what this power is about EXAMPLE – give an example of a law passed around this power Repeat 4 times for Nat 5, 2 times for Nat 4

One devolved power of the Scottish Parliament is health. This means that the Scottish Parliament can pass laws and introduce policies to do with health in Scotland. For example, in 2005 the Scottish Parliament introduced the Smoking Ban which meant that smoking was banned in public places.

Homework INVESTIGATE: Using the internet find out the following – Names of the Party Leaders within the Scottish Parliament Name of the First Minister Name of the Deputy First Minister Name of Minister for Education Name of Minister for Health

Was I successful? I can as part of a group to identify the key points in the creation of the Scottish Parliament. I can categorise devolved and reserved powers and create a mind map showing examples. Some will exemplify the devolved powers by adding up to date examples of laws. I can paraphrase the main terms of the Scotland Act 2012.