The Labour government elected in 1997 held referendums on devolution in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland later that year. All three were carried, and in 1999 the Scottish Parliament met for the first time since 1707, the National Assembly for Wales (now the Senedd) opened in Cardiff, and a power-sharing Northern Ireland Assembly was set up at Stormont.
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Devolution gave each body responsibility for matters such as health, education, transport and the environment in its area. Foreign affairs, defence, immigration and most taxation remained reserved to the UK Parliament at Westminster. The Welsh Senedd has steadily acquired more powers, and Scotland controls some taxes and most aspects of welfare.
You may be asked the year devolution took effect (1999), the name of the Welsh parliament (the Senedd), or where the Scottish Parliament meets (Holyrood, Edinburgh).
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