Hold a referendum on ending devolution in Scotland

We believe devolution in Scotland has failed, come at a cost to the UK economy and adds little to no value to the people of Scotland. We want a referendum to be held asking the public whether powers granted through devolution should be returned to the UK Government in Westminster.

We want a legally binding referendum to be held on whether to keep devolution in Scotland or not. Should the result of the referendum be that devolution is to end, ALL powers must be returned to the UK Government as soon as possible.

The Scottish Parliament is one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world, and the UK Government believes that the devolution settlement strikes a good balance. The UK Government is continuing to honour our commitment to deliver the Smith Commission Agreement and implement the Scotland Act 2016 in full. The UK Government continues to work with the Scottish Government on the ongoing implementation of the welfare powers devolved in the Act.

A referendum on Scottish devolution was held in 1997, with 74% of the Scottish electorate voting in favour of a Scottish Parliament with devolved powers. Devolution offers citizens in Scotland the best of both worlds, benefiting from having two governments. It allows decisions to be taken closer to the communities they affect, while citizens and communities continue to benefit from the strength and scale of the Union.

As set out in the Scotland Act 2016, the UK Government is clear that the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government are a permanent part of the United Kingdom’s constitutional arrangements.

People across Scotland rightly expect to see both of their governments working together with a relentless focus on the issues that matter to them, their families, and their communities. The UK Government’s position is that now is the time to focus collective efforts on tackling issues such as addressing the cost of living, protecting long-term energy security, growing the economy, and supporting the NHS. A referendum on ending devolution would be inconsistent with these ambitions to deliver for the people of Scotland.

Devolution brings a host of economic benefits and growth opportunities to Scotland through both UK Government and Scottish Government initiatives. For example, the UK Government has committed over £1.5 billion through the City Region and Growth Deals, helping to boost economic growth and create employment opportunities across all parts of Scotland; and earlier this year, the UK and Scottish Governments made a landmark agreement to establish two new Freeports in Scotland, which will help to regenerate areas, create thousands of high-quality jobs, and attract billions of pounds in inward investment.

The benefits of devolution, which enables Scotland to take decisions more locally while benefiting from being part of a strong United Kingdom, are also evident through initiatives such as the UK Government’s flagship Levelling Up Fund (LUF). The LUF has already delivered funding to 18 Scottish projects to the tune of £349 million, investing in projects that matter to local communities. Projects include a new ferry for Fair Isle, restoration of the Palace Theatre in Kilmarnock, and a green transport hub in Dundee. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund has awarded £212 million directly to Scottish Local Authorities, freeing them up from EU red tape. The Community Ownership Fund (COF) has already helped 24 Scottish community groups with £5.2 million to secure their local assets, with more funding to come in later rounds. The projects include town halls, pubs, community hubs and sports clubs.

In conclusion, the UK Government remains committed to devolution, and we will continue to work collaboratively and constructively with the Scottish Government to deliver for people, businesses and communities across Scotland.

Scotland Office

This is a revised response. The Petitions Committee requested a response which more directly addressed the request of the petition. You can find the original response towards the bottom of the petition page (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/634090)