Originally Posted by
geoff332
So, let's take the NHS - as I understand it relatively well.
When the UK Parliament defines policy for the NHS, it is defining policy for the NHS in England. It allocates a bunch of money and decides how that money should be spent (or, more precisely, it decides who decides how that money should be spent). If you're not happy with any of these policies, complain to your local MP. Given they're probably Conservative, I doubt they'll care.
In the devolved administrations, they are given responsibility for a number of areas, including the NHS and Education. They are also given a bucket of money. It is up to the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to decide how to spend that money on the areas they have responsibility for.
The NHS in each country is administered completely differently. Where England has internal market model where a buyer (currently the PCT, soon to be the local GP) buys services off the providers (eg hospitals and ... believe it or not .... GPs). In Scotland, the system is a much more public model, with a health board structure that make decisions about provision across Scotland.
The Scottish parliament decides how to split up that money between the various services. If they chose to reduce the NHS costs by adding prescription charges, then they would be able to spend that money elsewhere. It wouldn't go back to the UK pot to be spent in England (or anywhere else). By not applying prescription charges, this is a decision made by the Scottish parliament and one that means they can spend less elsewhere. Deciding where to spend the money they have allocated is a huge part of the job definition of a politician. Picking a single issue and making a case on that is really the antithesis of devolution.
You might question whether the total budget given to the devolved administrations accurately reflects the services for which they have responsibility and is equitable with England. They jury's out on that one - you can easily find strong opinions on either side.
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