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Question

Difficulty: MediumThe Concept of Devolution and Reserved Powers

The process of devolution involves the UK Parliament transferring certain powers to the Scottish Parliament, the Senedd (Welsh Parliament), and the Northern Ireland Assembly. However, some policy areas remain the exclusive responsibility of the UK Parliament in Westminster. Which of the following is an example of such a 'reserved power'?

  1. ImmigrationAnswer
  2. B
    Education and training
  3. C
    Health and social services
  4. D
    Environment

Answer

Immigration is a reserved power because it is a policy area that remains the responsibility of the UK Parliament in Westminster.
The correct answer is immigration because it is one of the specific areas, along with defence and foreign affairs, that the UK Parliament at Westminster keeps control over for the entire country. These are known as reserved powers.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Define the concept of reserved powers.
Reserved powers are policy areas where the UK Parliament retains control for the whole of the UK.
This establishes the criteria for selecting the correct option from the list.
2
Identify common examples of reserved and devolved powers.
Reserved: Defence, Foreign Affairs, Immigration, Social Security. Devolved: Education, Health, Transport, Environment.
Recalling the specific categories from the 'Life in the United Kingdom' handbook allows for accurate classification.
3
Evaluate the options based on these categories.
Immigration is the only option that is a reserved power; the others are devolved.
Direct comparison ensures that the answer aligns with the statutory distinctions of the UK's constitutional structure.

Key Concept

The distinction between reserved powers (controlled by Westminster) and devolved powers (controlled by Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland).

Practice More

Review other reserved powers such as Defence, Foreign Affairs, and Social Security to ensure you can distinguish them from devolved matters.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

The Concept of Devolution and Reserved Powers