Question

Difficulty: MediumDevolved Powers in Scotland

The Scottish Parliament has the authority to pass laws on specific policy areas that affect the daily lives of people in Scotland. Which of the following is an example of a 'devolved' power in Scotland?

  1. Agriculture, forestry and fishingAnswer
  2. B
    Defence
  3. C
    Immigration and nationality
  4. D
    International development

Answer

Agriculture, forestry and fishing is a devolved power in Scotland.
In the United Kingdom, the Scottish Parliament has the power to pass laws on 'devolved' matters. Agriculture, forestry and fishing is a specific area where legislative authority has been transferred to Scotland. This allows the Scottish Government to implement policies tailored to Scotland's specific environmental and economic needs in these sectors.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the concept of devolution in the UK system.
Devolution is the transfer of certain legislative powers from the UK Parliament to the Scottish Parliament, allowing for local law-making on specific domestic issues.
Differentiating between the powers held by Holyrood and those held by Westminster is central to the UK constitutional structure.
2
Compare the provided policy areas against the list of devolved and reserved powers in the Official Life in the UK Handbook.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing is categorized as a devolved power, whereas Defence, Immigration, and International Development are reserved for the UK Parliament.
Accurate identification relies on recalling the specific categories defined in the official curriculum.

Key Concept

The Scottish Parliament possesses 'devolved' powers to legislate on domestic matters such as agriculture and housing, while the UK Parliament retains 'reserved' powers over national interests like defence and borders.
Estimated Time:45s
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