How does the Scottish Government work?
Watch this video to learn why Scotland is represented at two parliaments.
Why are there two parliaments in Scotland?
What are devolved powers?
The Scottish Parliament Building
Scotland has devolved powers within the UK system of government. These are set out in the Scotland Act (1998). Scotland is not an independent country in the sense that the Scottish Parliament can't make decisions in all areas affecting the lives of the people of Scotland. However, the Scottish Parliament does have the power to make decisions in many important areas of peoples' lives.
Devolved and reserved powers in Scotland
The areas over which the Scottish Parliament has decision-making powers are called To transfer power to another powers. Those kept by Westminster are called To retain or keep hold of something. powers.
| Scotland Act (1998) existing devolved powers | Reserved powers |
| Health | Constitutional matters |
| Education and training | UK defence and national security |
| Local government | UK foreign policy |
| Law, including most aspects of criminal and civil law, the prosecution system and the courts | Immigration and nationality |
| Social work | UK economic and monetary policy |
| Housing | Energy: electricity, coal, gas and nuclear power |
| Tourism and economic development | Employment legislation |
| Some control over top-up benefits | UK wide social security: universal credit, tax credits and child benefit |
| Responsibility for a portion of Scotland's income tax, VAT receipts and land taxes | Social security (the DWP 鈥 Department for Work and Pensions) |
| Power to borrow up to 拢5bn | Some aspects of transport, including railways, safety and regulation |
| Some aspects of transport, including the Scottish road network, bus policy, and ports and harbours | Regulation of certain professions such as medicine and dentistry |
| Planning and the environment | Others, such as data protection, broadcasting, gambling and the National Lottery |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | |
| Sport and the arts | |
| Miscellaneous matters, such as compiling statistics and keeping public records |
| Scotland Act (1998) existing devolved powers | Health |
|---|---|
| Reserved powers | Constitutional matters |
| Scotland Act (1998) existing devolved powers | Education and training |
|---|---|
| Reserved powers | UK defence and national security |
| Scotland Act (1998) existing devolved powers | Local government |
|---|---|
| Reserved powers | UK foreign policy |
| Scotland Act (1998) existing devolved powers | Law, including most aspects of criminal and civil law, the prosecution system and the courts |
|---|---|
| Reserved powers | Immigration and nationality |
| Scotland Act (1998) existing devolved powers | Social work |
|---|---|
| Reserved powers | UK economic and monetary policy |
| Scotland Act (1998) existing devolved powers | Housing |
|---|---|
| Reserved powers | Energy: electricity, coal, gas and nuclear power |
| Scotland Act (1998) existing devolved powers | Tourism and economic development |
|---|---|
| Reserved powers | Employment legislation |
| Scotland Act (1998) existing devolved powers | Some control over top-up benefits |
|---|---|
| Reserved powers | UK wide social security: universal credit, tax credits and child benefit |
| Scotland Act (1998) existing devolved powers | Responsibility for a portion of Scotland's income tax, VAT receipts and land taxes |
|---|---|
| Reserved powers | Social security (the DWP 鈥 Department for Work and Pensions) |
| Scotland Act (1998) existing devolved powers | Power to borrow up to 拢5bn |
|---|---|
| Reserved powers | Some aspects of transport, including railways, safety and regulation |
| Scotland Act (1998) existing devolved powers | Some aspects of transport, including the Scottish road network, bus policy, and ports and harbours |
|---|---|
| Reserved powers | Regulation of certain professions such as medicine and dentistry |
| Scotland Act (1998) existing devolved powers | Planning and the environment |
|---|---|
| Reserved powers | Others, such as data protection, broadcasting, gambling and the National Lottery |
| Scotland Act (1998) existing devolved powers | Agriculture, forestry and fishing |
|---|---|
| Reserved powers |
| Scotland Act (1998) existing devolved powers | Sport and the arts |
|---|---|
| Reserved powers |
| Scotland Act (1998) existing devolved powers | Miscellaneous matters, such as compiling statistics and keeping public records |
|---|---|
| Reserved powers |