devolution

• What did the Greater London Authority Act 1999 do?

  established a mayor of London and a 25 member London Assembly
• What does the London Mayor do?

  • makes it easier for people to move in and around the city
  • helping the capital’s businesses to thrive
  • proving Londoners with more affordable housing
  • giving young people in London more opportunities
• How is the mayor elected?

  Directly
• What is the role of the Two tier councils?

  they split local government functions between them
• What do parish and town councils do?

  Local governance
• What are the different types of single tier councils?

  • metropolitan boroughs
  • unitary councils
  • London boroughs
• How do councils raise money?

  direct funding from national gov

  business rates

  council tax
• What is the West Lothian Question?

  whether Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish MPs should be able to vote on purely english matters
• What is English Votes for English Laws (EVEL)

  An alternative legislative process for English MPs to vote on English laws
• Argument for England to have its own parliament:

  It would provide parity with the rest of the UK
• Argument for England to have its own parliament

  A devolved English parliament would start to end the current asymmetrical devolution model
• Argument for England to not have its own parliament

  lacks a public mandate
• Argument for England to not have its own parliament

  could further weaken the union - it could lead to calls for independence for Scotland.