Question

Difficulty: MediumThe Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive

The Northern Ireland Assembly has the authority to debate and pass laws on specific 'devolved' matters. Which of the following areas is a devolved responsibility of the Northern Ireland Assembly?

  1. A
    Defence and national security
  2. Education and healthAnswer
  3. C
    Foreign policy and international relations
  4. D
    The control of immigration

Answer

Education and health are devolved responsibilities of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont has the power to legislate on matters that primarily affect the daily lives of people in Northern Ireland, such as education, health, and social services. These are known as 'devolved' matters.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the role of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The Assembly is a devolved legislature meeting at Stormont in Belfast.
Understanding the institution's purpose helps define its legal boundaries.
2
Distinguish between devolved and reserved powers.
Devolved powers affect local services, while reserved powers affect the entire UK.
This is the primary mechanism by which power is distributed in the UK system.
3
Classify the provided areas based on official handbook definitions.
Education and health are local services; the others are national security and policy issues.
Directly answering the question by applying the categories to the options.

Key Concept

Scope of Devolved Powers in Northern Ireland
Estimated Time:45s
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