Devolution to directly elected regional bodies

There are four other institutions in the UK at national or regional level that are directly elected – the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Greater London Authority. Each has different powers, and scrutiny at each operates differently.

As happens nationally, scrutiny occurs both at full meetings of the Assembly or Parliament and at individual committees.
 
In Scotland, a number of committees have been established by the Parliament, reflecting the Westminster model. Given the wide-ranging powers of the Scottish Parliament, including tax-raising powers, scrutiny is a central part of the devolution settlement here, involving direct strategic oversight of the Police, the justice system, NHS Scotland and other agencies of the Scottish Government.
 
In Wales, the Assembly has a similar remit. Following the Beecham Report, published in 2006, and, in 2007, the subsequent reports, “Making the Connections” and “A Shared Responsibility”, Welsh Government has moved consciously towards a culture of partnership working. Committees of the Assembly have been crucial to this, taking as they do a cross-cutting view of Welsh governance and government. Steps are under way to enhance the powers of the Welsh Assembly to raise its own revenue and make wider decisions about public services, which are expected to involve a similar enhancement in the power and role of scrutiny.
 
In Northern Ireland, scrutiny at Stormont is also based on the Westminster model, with departmental and standing committees covering all areas of the Assembly’s remit. Time-limited, ad hoc committees on particular issues have been established, such as an ad hoc committee on local postal services.
 
London’s system of governance is slightly different, being centred on the Mayor, who holds executive power. The London Assembly holds the Mayor to account both through meetings of the full Assembly (including regular events such as Mayor’s Question Time) and scrutiny committees, which are responsible for carrying out work relating to the Mayor’s work at the GLA itself and at the GLA Group of organisations, including the Metropolitan Police Authority, Transport for London and the London Development Agency. The London Assembly is made up from 25 members, 14 elected directly to constituencies usually the size of two or three London boroughs, and 11 elected London-wide through a 'top-up' system to reflect the strength of parties' votes across London.