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Question

Difficulty: MediumDevolved Powers in Wales

The Senedd (Welsh Parliament) has the authority to legislate on specific matters that impact the people of Wales directly. Which of the following areas is a devolved responsibility of the Welsh Government?

  1. Local government and highwaysAnswer
  2. B
    Foreign policy and international relations
  3. C
    Defence and national security
  4. D
    The court system and the police

Answer

Local government and highways
The correct answer is correct because local government and highways are specifically listed as devolved responsibilities in the Welsh devolution settlement. This allows the Senedd to pass laws and the Welsh Government to manage policies regarding local councils, community services, and the maintenance of roads within Wales.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the nature of the Welsh devolution settlement.
The Senedd has powers over 'devolved' matters, while 'reserved' matters stay with the UK Parliament.
This distinction is the fundamental basis for understanding which government handles which issue.
2
Categorize the options based on the official handbook.
Issues like health, education, and local government are devolved; issues like defence, immigration, and foreign policy are reserved.
This filters out the powers that apply to the whole of the UK.
3
Apply the specific rule for the justice system in Wales.
Recognize that unlike Scotland, the justice system and police in Wales are not devolved.
This avoids the common misconception that all devolved nations have their own separate legal systems.

Key Concept

The distinction between devolved powers (e.g., local government, highways, health) and reserved powers (e.g., defence, foreign policy, justice) in the context of Wales.

Practice More

Review the list of reserved powers in the official handbook to better understand the limits of devolution in Wales compared to Scotland.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Devolved Powers in Wales

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