Venue Shift Following Devolution: When Reserved Meets Devolved in Scotland

Citation

Cairney P (2006) Venue Shift Following Devolution: When Reserved Meets Devolved in Scotland. Regional and Federal Studies, 16 (4), pp. 429-445. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13597560600989029#preview

Abstract
This article examines the means used to address blurred or shifting boundaries between reserved UK and devolved Scottish policy. It outlines the main issues of multi-level governance and intergovernmental relations in Scotland and the initial problems faced in identifying responsibility for policy action. While it suggests that legislative ambiguities are now mainly resolved with the use of ‘Sewel motions', it highlights cases of Scottish action in reserved areas, including the example of smoking policy in which the Scottish Executive appears to ‘commandeer' a previously reserved issue. However, most examples of new Scottish influence suggest the need for UK support or minimal UK interest.

Keywords
Intergovernmental relations; multi-level governance; devolution; Scotland

Journal
Regional and Federal Studies: Volume 16, Issue 4

People

Professor Paul Cairney

Professor, Politics