§ Lord Windleshamasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any Home Office functions in the field of criminal justice have been devolved to the National Assembly for Wales or to the Scottish Parliament. [HL3843]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonYes. Responsibility for pensions regulations in respect of police officers in Scotland was devolved to the Scottish Parliament. The 215WA Home Office remains responsible for criminal justice in England and Wales. Before devolution, the Scottish Office had lead responsibility for criminal justice in Scotland and details of the matters for which the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales are now responsible can be found in the Scotland Act 1998, the Government of Wales Act 1998 and Transfer of Functions Orders made under those Acts.
216WAThe effects of the devolution legislation in Scotland and Wales are summarised in Devolution Guidance Note 11: Ministerial Accountability under Devolution, the publication of which was announced by my noble and learned friend the Lord Chancellor in answer to a Question on 27 July 2000, Official Report, col. WA 73. A copy was placed in the Library and the text may also be viewed on the Cabinet Office website, www.cabinet-office.gov.uk, under The Government Machine.