PSAs and devolution

摘要

Devolution created new political centres within the United Kingdom, and this means that the new administrations must take responsibility for their own actions and be held responsible for their successes and failures. Devolved decisions are subject to different political pressures from the national political scene at Westminster, not least because each devolved administration is a coalition government. These new political pressures will almost certainly push towards policy divergences in some form or other. Furthermore, the differing circumstances facing the different territories ought to necessitate some differences in policy - for example the Scottish Executive will have to include targets on land reform and the Welsh administration will have to include targets relating to the Welsh language. However, even if the means are different, many of the broadest outcomes relating to improved public services can currently be shared by the different administrations. However, if the devolved institutions continue to use targets they will need to bring greater focus to the process, which would help foster more clarity and clearer lines of accountability. Indeed, lessons could be learnt from the experience in Whitehall. On the other hand, Whitehall, as it is preparing the 2002 PSA targets, must ensure that the territorial dimension to UK politics is recognised.