Devolution (Further Powers) Committee

Devolution (Further Powers) Committee was a House of Commons committee established to examine the Scotland Act 2016 and the Wales Act 2017, with a focus on the further devolution of powers to Scotland and Wales. The committee's work was informed by the Smith Commission and the Silk Commission, which had previously recommended the transfer of additional powers to the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales. The committee's remit was closely tied to the work of the UK Parliament's Scottish Affairs Committee and the Welsh Affairs Committee, as well as the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government. The committee's activities were also influenced by the European Union's Regional Policy and the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.

● Introduction

The Devolution (Further Powers) Committee was established in 2015 to consider the implications of the Scotland Act 2016 and the Wales Act 2017 for the devolution of powers to Scotland and Wales. The committee's work built on the recommendations of the Smith Commission and the Silk Commission, which had identified areas where further powers could be devolved to the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales. The committee's membership included Members of Parliament (MPs) from Plaid Cymru, the Labour Party (UK), the Conservative Party (UK), and the Liberal Democrats, ensuring a broad range of perspectives on the devolution of powers. The committee's work was also informed by the experiences of other devolved administrations, such as the Northern Ireland Assembly and the London Assembly.

● Background

The Devolution (Further Powers) Committee's work was set against the backdrop of the United Kingdom's changing constitutional landscape, with the Scotland Act 2016 and the Wales Act 2017 representing significant developments in the devolution of powers to Scotland and Wales. The committee's remit was influenced by the European Union's Regional Policy and the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, as well as the work of the UK Parliament's European Scrutiny Committee and the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee. The committee's activities were also shaped by the UK Government's Devolution Guidance Note, which provided a framework for the devolution of powers to the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales. The committee's work was closely tied to the activities of the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth and the Welsh Government's Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government.

● Membership and Remit

The Devolution (Further Powers) Committee's membership included Hywel Williams as chair, as well as other Members of Parliament (MPs) from Plaid Cymru, the Labour Party (UK), the Conservative Party (UK), and the Liberal Democrats. The committee's remit was to examine the implications of the Scotland Act 2016 and the Wales Act 2017 for the devolution of powers to Scotland and Wales, with a focus on the further devolution of powers in areas such as taxation, welfare, and justice. The committee's work was informed by the recommendations of the Smith Commission and the Silk Commission, as well as the experiences of other devolved administrations, such as the Northern Ireland Assembly and the London Assembly. The committee's activities were also influenced by the work of the UK Parliament's Scottish Affairs Committee and the Welsh Affairs Committee, as well as the House of Lords' Constitution Committee and the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee.

● Activities and Reports

The Devolution (Further Powers) Committee published several reports during its existence, including a report on the Scotland Act 2016 and a report on the Wales Act 2017. The committee's reports were informed by evidence from a range of witnesses, including the Scottish Government's First Minister of Scotland, the Welsh Government's First Minister of Wales, and the UK Government's Secretary of State for Scotland and Secretary of State for Wales. The committee's activities were also influenced by the work of other parliamentary committees, such as the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee and the European Scrutiny Committee. The committee's reports were closely tied to the work of the UK Parliament's Legislative Scrutiny Committee and the Human Rights Committee, as well as the House of Lords' European Union Committee and the Constitution Committee.

● Impact and Legacy

The Devolution (Further Powers) Committee's work had a significant impact on the devolution of powers to Scotland and Wales, with the committee's reports influencing the development of the Scotland Act 2016 and the Wales Act 2017. The committee's activities were also influential in shaping the UK Government's approach to devolution, with the committee's recommendations informing the development of the UK Government's Devolution Guidance Note. The committee's legacy can be seen in the continued devolution of powers to Scotland and Wales, with the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales exercising increasingly significant powers in areas such as taxation, welfare, and justice. The committee's work was closely tied to the activities of the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth and the Welsh Government's Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, as well as the UK Parliament's Scottish Affairs Committee and the Welsh Affairs Committee.

Category:United Kingdom parliamentary committees