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Question

Difficulty: MediumDevolved Powers in Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont has the authority to legislate on several matters that affect daily life in Northern Ireland. Which of these areas is a devolved responsibility of the Assembly?

  1. The environment and planningAnswer
  2. B
    Immigration and border control
  3. C
    National defense and the armed forces
  4. D
    Foreign policy and international relations

Answer

The environment and planning is a devolved responsibility of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The environment and planning is correct because it is one of the specific policy areas, known as 'transferred matters,' that have been devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly. This means the Assembly has the legal power to make decisions and pass laws regarding these issues within Northern Ireland.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the role of the Northern Ireland Assembly
The Assembly at Stormont handles 'transferred matters' which are local policy areas.
Devolution divides power between the central UK government and local administrations.
2
Distinguish between devolved and reserved/excepted powers
Local services like health, education, and the environment are devolved, while national issues like defense and immigration are not.
This distinction ensures that local issues are managed locally while national security and international standing remain unified.
3
Select the correct local policy area from the options
The environment and planning is the only devolved area listed.
The other three options are powers strictly held by the UK Parliament at Westminster.

Key Concept

Transferred Matters in Northern Ireland
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Devolved Powers in Northern Ireland