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Detailed Guidance: The Three Devolution Settlements

In this section, you will find further information about the three devolution settlements. It is arranged as follows:

Northern Ireland

• The Devolution Act
• the Devolved Institutions
• Devolved responsibilities

Wales

• The Devolution Act
• the Devolved Institutions
• Devolved responsibilities

Scotland

• The Devolution Act
• the Devolved Institutions
• Devolved responsibilities

Within HM Government, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are each represented in Cabinet by a Territorial Secretary of State, who ensures the smooth running of the devolution settlements; acts as the lynchpin of the relationship between the devolved administration and HM Government.  To this end, the responsibilities of the Territorial Secretaries of State are:

1. Handling legislation as it affects the territory;
2. Representing the territory's interests in the Cabinet and Cabinet Committees;
3. Responding to Parliamentary interests in territorial affairs;
4. Transmitting the Block Grant to the Devolved Administration;
5. Supporting collaboration between HM Government and the devolved administration;
6. Generally promoting the interests of the territory.