The new opertunities that have arisen fromdevolution in Britian..?

have brought the idea of a co operation between Scotland, Wales and Nothern Ireland with regard to health and education to the fore front. There could exist a situation where these three nations united could very well preasure westminster to allocate more finances for the implication of these plans. For example, prescription charges in Scotland have fallen recently and the drive is on to abolish them all together. will this situation bring about a power shift within the uk ? and do you think it will result in the disolution of the union?

This topic is very topically, no more so than in Scotland I think. It is unlikely that Wales will put a lot of pressure on the current Labour Westminster Government as both are Labour (granted that Welsh Labour is a lot more left wing). Where most of the pressure is coming from is Scotland, with two different methods and for two very different reasons.

The SNP's "National Conversation" White Paper(http://www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/a-nati... sets out options for Scotland's future, in the UK as we are, so called "Maxed Devolution" and Independence. The White Paper is coming from the Scottish Government, so you would think it has more chance than being acted upon than the three main opposition parties, "Constitutional Commission" report, which has the backing of the British Government - funny really... Yet the opposition parties report will have, as it stands right now, a greater chance of being acted upon as the SNP is a Minority Government with only 47 MSPs, in which 78 MSPs would vote their Bill on independence through a referendum down, instead opting for their Bill, which will most likely be a referendum with two questions, Status Quo or More Powers.

In aspects of the Devolved Parliament鈥檚 budget, I believe that Westminster will be looking into the Barnet formula, though I could be wrong. In Scotland's case, the end of the Barnet Formula would have to mean greater fiscal autonomy by the Scottish Parliament, including that of Oil. As if it did not Scotland would lose out, and you could probably bet that the people of Scotland, under what ever Party was in government at Westminster would fall out with them big time...

I think that certain Acts such as the one you stated about the phasing out of prescription charges causes divides. The English are not going to like the idea that only countries with Devolved rule get things which they don't.

The whole point in Devolution in the eyes of Labour was to put at rest the rise of Nationalism and instead, what the Tory鈥檚 said all along with Major it would end "1000 years of British history" Simply by looking at all three Devolved Parliaments / Assemblies in N. Ireland, in Wales and in Scotland there is in some shape or form a Nationalist government, from the coalition in Wales and N. Ireland to the Minority Government in Scotland.

What鈥檚 more in Scotland, led by the SNP we will see perceived powers (Devolved powers) of the Scottish Parliament attempting to be passed, where Labour will say no as in the Scotland Act did not make clear about the Devolved powers actually are - like the Air Rifle issue. Before the Scottish Labour led Executive and British Labour Government would have kept any discussions behind closed doors with the Westminster Party, you can bet that the SNP will not, and indeed have not.

There is a power shift and you can bet that powers currently reserved to Westminster, will make there way more powerful Parliament(s) and Assemblies, either in Union or not.