Scottish
Devolution
Source materials activity
This activity is designed to help students understand Scottish devolution and
some of the issues surrounding the proposed referendum.
Ask your students to watch the videos in source one and read through the rest
of the sources, then answer the questions that follow.
Source one
‘Which powers do you think should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament?’


One-minute video response from Pete Wishart MP:
www.parliament.uk/wishart-scotland
One-minute video response from Lord Wallace: www.parliament.uk/wallacescotland
By: Lord Wallace (Liberal Democrat) and Pete Wishart MP (Scottish National Party)
Source: Video interviews conducted by Parliament’s Education Service, February
2012
Source two
“I tell you, devolution will be and is the salvation of the UK.”
By: Tony Blair
Source: BBC News, 01/10/1999 - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/462727.stm
Source three
“I desire and expect from all my subjects of both nations that from henceforth they
act with all possible respect and kindness to one another, that so it may appear to all
the world they have hearts disposed to become one people.”
By: Queen Anne
Source: Speech to the House of Lords upon the passage of the Act of Union,
06/03/1707
Source four
“The issue of possible Scottish independence is going to be one of major importance
in the months ahead. Yet the debate is characterised more by feelings and sentiment
than by a serious analysis of the many crucial issues involved.
“Our Committee is well placed to help with such an analysis. First we will be
concentrating on the economic issues alone, where our expertise lies. Second, we
will be looking at the implications for the whole of the United Kingdom not just some
parts of it.
“Before any votes are taken, in a referendum or otherwise, it is vital that the facts,
the implications and the potential consequences are fully understood. I believe our
inquiry will contribute to that.”
By: Lord MacGregor of Pulham Market, chairman of the Lords Economic Affairs
Committee
Source: Announcement of an investigation into the implications for the United
Kingdom of Scottish Independence by a House of Lords Select Committee,
http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lordsselect/economic-affairs-committee/news/economic-implications-for-the-uk-ofscottish-independence/
Source five (a)
"We can [...] work together to make the most of the incredible strengths that our
country possesses - the skills of our people, the richness of our heritage, the beauty
of our landscape, the wealth of our resources."
By: Alex Salmond
Source: ‘New Year Message’, 2012,
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2011/12/29151530
Source five (b)
“How are we going to equip our children to meet the challenges of recession? Is
independence going to bring more opportunities from them?”
“Who will qualify for citizenship of Scotland should/when it becomes independent?”
“In my view the most cogent argument for independence for Scotland is the need for
separate representation at the European Union.”
“How can the government truly facilitate an equal, equitable Scotland in which racial
equality is maintained?”
By: A range of Scottish residents
Source: The National Conversation, White Paper on the options for constitutional
reform in Scotland: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/293639/0090721.pdf
Source six
1998
Country
Seats in the UK
Parliament
England
529
Wales
40
Scotland
72
Northern Ireland
18
2012
Country
Seats in the UK
Parliament
England
533
Wales
40
Scotland
59
Northern Ireland
18
By: House of Commons library
Source: Page 39 of the House of Commons library briefing paper: ‘The Scotland Bill:
Some constitutional and representational aspects’,
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons/lib/research/rp98/rp98-003.pdf, 1998.
The UK Parliament website, http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/,
2012.
Source seven
“For how long will English constituencies and English Honourable members tolerate
at least 119 Honourable Members from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
exercising an important, and probably often decisive, effect on British politics while
they themselves have no say in the same matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland?”
By: Tam Dalyell, MP for West Lothian, 14/11/1977
Source: UK Parliament website, http://www.parliament.uk/siteinformation/glossary/west-lothian-question/
Questions about the sources
1)
Watch the videos in source one.
a.
Give two examples of powers that currently belong to the Scottish
Parliament and two that are controlled by the UK Parliament.
b.
What does each of the interviewees think of the current balance of
power between Scotland and the UK Parliament? Do they want to
increase or decrease it, and why?
2)
Look again at the video of Pete Wishart MP in source one, then look at source
two.
a.
Pete Wishart MP suggests several different options for Scotland’s
future. Name three of them.
b.
Briefly explain the terms: independence, sovereignty, autonomy, quasifederalism, and devolution plus. You may need to do some research to
help you. Which of these terms currently applies to the status of
Scotland in the UK, and which would Pete Wishart MP like to apply to
Scotland in the future?
c.
In source two, Tony Blair’s view of Scotland’s future is very different.
Why do you think he describes devolution as “the salvation of the UK”?
3)
Look at sources three, four and five.
a.
Sources three and four give different reasons why people might want
their own sovereign country. What reason for Union / independence
does the author of source four focus on? In source three, what
contrasting factor does Queen Anne think will bind England and
Scotland together?
b.
The quotes in source five bring up some issues that an independent
Scotland might want to consider, suggested by Scottish people. Which
issues do you think are the most important? And which factors have
the most influence on your own sense of national or regional identity?
4)
Look at sources three, six and seven.
a.
What can you learn from these sources about the history of Scotland’s
involvement in the Union? How has Scotland’s representation in the
UK Parliament changed since devolution began in 1998? Can you
suggest reasons for this change?
b.
In source seven, outline the problem that Tam Dalyell foresees for the
UK Parliament as a result of Scottish devolution.
Extension activity
Look again at all of the sources, then answer the question: ‘How might the outcome
of a referendum on Scottish independence change the composition and powers of
the UK Parliament?’ Make sure you consider the various possible outcomes of the
referendum.
You may need to do some additional research to support your answer.