SCOTLAND - ALBA
Scotland's Governance:
The Current Situation
Ø Sovereignty lies with the UK Government at Westminster.
Ø Certain policy areas are devolved to the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, such as Health, Education, Law and Order and some aspects of Transport and Economic policy.
Ø Westminster retains control over issues like Foreign Affairs, Defence, Taxation, Social Security and Pensions.
Ø The Scottish Executive is financed through a block grant from Westminster, currently totalling some £30 billion in 2006-07. This funding is calculated by means of a set formula – the Barnett Formula – based on a proportion of UK government spending.
Ø Spending decisions from within this set block of cash are a matter for the Scottish Executive.
Ø The Executive has the power to raise or lower Income Tax in Scotland by 3%, but has never utilised this power.
Independence
Ø Full legal separation from the United Kingdom.
Ø Sovereignty lies with an independent Scottish Government and legislature.
Ø This would mean the creation of a separate Scottish sovereign state, with full powers over all aspects of domestic and foreign policy, including taxation, immigration, the welfare state and defence.
Ø This would enable a Scottish Government to assume full control over all aspects of fiscal policy and to represent Scotland’s interests directly in international affairs.
Ø It would have the responsibility for raising and spending all tax revenues within Scotland.
Ø Some elements may still be shared with the UK or other foreign governments, e.g. common defence, currency, etc.
 
(All pages of this website Printed, Published and Promoted by Maxine Smith, Heathfield, Invergordon IV18 0LN)
|
SNP - for a Healthier, Wealthier Free Scotland | sitemap | log in
