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Difficulty: MediumThe 1990s: Good Friday Agreement and Devolution

In 1997, the UK government held separate public referendums in Scotland and Wales to decide on the creation of devolved administrations. Which of the following statements correctly describes the outcome of these votes?

  1. Both Scotland and Wales voted in favor of devolution, though the margin in Wales was much narrower than in Scotland.Answer
  2. B
    Scotland voted in favor of establishing a parliament, but the majority of voters in Wales rejected the proposal for an assembly.
  3. C
    The referendum in Scotland was rejected by the public, while the Welsh voters chose to become an independent nation.
  4. D
    Both nations rejected the proposals in 1997, and the devolved bodies were instead created by a direct act of Parliament in 1999.

Answer

Both Scotland and Wales voted in favor of devolution, though the margin in Wales was much narrower than in Scotland.
In 1997, both Scotland and Wales held referendums on whether to have devolved administrations. The result in Scotland was a clear 'Yes' for a parliament with tax-varying powers. The result in Wales was also a 'Yes' for an assembly, but it was won by a much smaller margin.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Recall the timing and purpose of the 1997 referendums.
The referendums were held to seek public approval for creating a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly.
Devolution required a democratic mandate from the populations directly affected.
2
Analyze the results for each nation.
Scotland provided a strong 'Yes' vote, while Wales provided a 'Yes' vote by a very slim majority.
The level of public support varied between the two regions, which is a key historical detail of the 1990s reforms.

Key Concept

The 1997 Devolution Referendums
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

The 1990s: Good Friday Agreement and Devolution

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