§ Mr. TynanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what regular assessments of the balance between devolved and reserved powers are carried out. [185660]
§ Mrs. McGuireThe Government keeps policy and practice in relation to all aspects of the Scottish devolution settlement under review.
Those matters reserved to the UK Parliament are set out in Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998. Any amendments to Schedule 5, either increasing or reducing the scope of reserved matters, are considered on a caseby-case basis and are subject to scrutiny in both the UK and Scottish Parliaments.
§ Mr. TynanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what(a) devolved issues and (b) other responsibilities have been transferred from the Scottish Executive to the UK Government since 1999; what return of funding each transfer involved; how many staff each transfer involved; and what legal basis was required for each transfer. [185661]
§ Mrs. McGuireThere have been no devolved issues transferred from the Scottish Executive to Ministers of the Crown since 1 July 1999.
§ Mr. TynanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what(a) reserved issues and (b) other responsibilities have been transferred from the UK Government to the Scottish Executive since its creation; what additional funding each transfer involved; how many staff each transfer involved; and what legal basis was required for each transfer. [185662]
§ Mrs. McGuireThis is a complex and detailed matter, which will require the preparation of a comprehensive list of legislation that relates to any transfer of functions or legislative competence. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as this list can be prepared and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.