Devolved administrations: Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland

Last reviewed 4 September 2026 · Reviewed by the BritainTest editorial team

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own devolved administration with power over certain matters, while the UK Parliament in London keeps others. This transfer of power is called devolution. This guide explains what devolution is, which body sits where, who leads it, and what stays reserved to the UK Parliament. It is part of our government and law study notes.

Key facts

What devolution is

Devolution is the transfer of some powers from the UK Parliament in London to national bodies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These bodies can make their own decisions on devolved matters such as education and health, while reserved matters such as defence, foreign affairs and immigration stay with the UK Parliament.

The three devolved bodies

When they were created

Devolution came in the late 1990s. Following referendums in 1997, the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh body (now the Senedd) began work in 1999. In Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Assembly was established under the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement of 1998 and first met in 1999. Northern Ireland has a history of power-sharing, and the Assembly has at times been suspended, with power returning to the UK government at Westminster during those periods.

Who leads each administration, and what they control

Each nation elects members to its own body: Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), Members of the Senedd (MSs) in Wales, and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in Northern Ireland. Scotland and Wales are led by a First Minister; Northern Ireland is led jointly by a First Minister and deputy First Minister under its power-sharing rules. The Scottish Parliament can pass its own laws and has some power to change tax rates.

Devolved matters that these bodies can decide typically include education, health, housing, local transport and the environment. Some matters are devolved in one nation but not another, so the exact powers differ across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

What stays reserved to the UK Parliament

Reserved matters are kept for the UK Parliament and government and apply across the whole UK. They include defence, national security, foreign policy, immigration and nationality, and the currency. This is why the Life in the UK Test and the immigration rules are the same wherever in the UK you live.

What to remember for the test

• Scotland: the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh (Holyrood).
• Wales: the Senedd in Cardiff.
• Northern Ireland: the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont, Belfast.
• Devolution began around 1999 and is not independence.
• Members are MSPs (Scotland), MSs (Wales) and MLAs (Northern Ireland).
• Devolved matters include education, health and housing.
• Reserved matters like defence, foreign affairs and immigration stay with the UK Parliament.

Practise this topic

Test yourself on devolution in the real format, then reread anything you miss. Next comes the UK justice system.

What devolution is

Devolution is the transfer of some powers from the UK Parliament in London to national bodies in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This transfer of power is called devolution, and it allows these bodies to make their own decisions on devolved matters such as education and health.

Under this system, the UK Parliament passes decision-making powers to national assemblies and parliaments. These bodies can make their own decisions on devolved matters such as education and health, allowing them to manage their own domestic services.

What are devolved powers and what are reserved powers?

Devolved powers are policy areas where national bodies can make their own decisions, such as education and health, whereas reserved matters stay with the UK Parliament in London. Reserved matters include crucial national responsibilities such as defence, foreign affairs, and immigration.

This division determines which legislature holds authority over specific issues. While national bodies can make their own decisions on devolved matters such as education and health, reserved matters such as defence, foreign affairs, and immigration stay with the UK Parliament.

Why was it introduced?

Devolution was introduced after voters approved constitutional change, with referendums held in Scotland and Wales in September 1997 where a majority of voters chose to establish a Scottish Parliament and a National Assembly for Wales. In Northern Ireland, devolution developed from the Belfast or Good Friday Agreement, which was an international agreement between the British and Irish Governments, lodged with the United Nations. Following the referendums in Scotland and Wales and the Good Friday Agreement, three devolution Acts were passed in 1998 to establish the devolved legislatures: the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly.

The powers took effect under statutory orders the following year. For Scotland, the relevant commencement order stated that provisions of the Act shall come into force on 1st July 1999. In Northern Ireland, devolution became operational when the appointed day order came into force on 2nd December 1999.