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What the devolved bodies decide

Study note

The devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can make decisions on many of the everyday matters that affect people's lives in their own nations. Devolved areas include health and education, as well as things like local services and aspects of transport. This lets each nation shape these services to suit local needs.

Other powers are not devolved and stay with the UK Parliament for the whole country. These are called reserved matters, and they cover major national issues such as defence, foreign affairs, immigration and taxation policy. For the test, the trick is to separate local services from national ones: health and education are usually decided by the devolved governments, while defence, foreign affairs and immigration are reserved to the UK Parliament.

Memory tip: Devolved can decide health and education; reserved to the UK: defence, foreign affairs, immigration, tax policy.

Practise this topic

Question 1 of 4 · choose two

Select TWO areas that are usually decided by the devolved governments.

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Show all questions and answers for What the devolved bodies decide(4 questions with explanations)

What the devolved bodies decide: questions, answers and explanations

  1. 1. Select TWO areas that are usually decided by the devolved governments.

    • Education
    • Health
    • Foreign affairs
    • Defence

    Correct answer: Education and Health

    Health and education are devolved, while defence and foreign affairs are reserved to the UK.

  2. 2. Select TWO matters that are reserved to the UK Parliament rather than devolved.

    • Defence
    • Local schools
    • Local hospitals
    • Immigration

    Correct answer: Defence and Immigration

    Defence and immigration are reserved to the UK Parliament; schools and hospitals are devolved.

  3. 3. Which of these is a reserved matter kept by the UK Parliament?

    • Foreign affairs
    • Education
    • Health services
    • Housing

    Correct answer: Foreign affairs

    Foreign affairs is a reserved matter handled by the UK Parliament.

  4. 4. Which of these is NOT a matter reserved to the UK Parliament?

    • Health
    • Defence
    • Immigration
    • Foreign affairs

    Correct answer: Health

    Health is devolved; defence, foreign affairs and immigration are reserved to the UK Parliament.

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