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What are the powers of the Scottish Parliament?

Since the Scottish Parliament reconvened in 1999, decision making power is now split between MPs in London and MSPs in Edinburgh. Issues decided at Westminster are said to be ‘reserved’ while issues decided by the Scottish Parliament are ‘devolved’.

A limited level of further devolution has taken place since 1999, following the Scotland Acts 2012 and 2016. This has given Scotland some limited powers over taxation, social security, elections in Scotland and some employment services. We will use these new powers to better serve the interests of all of Scotland: expanding our economy and lifting people out of poverty.

The following table outlines devolved and reserved powers:

Devolved	Reserved
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries	Benefits and social security (amounting to around 85 per cent of the Scottish benefit bill)
Education and training	Taxes (amounting to around 70 per cent of the total raised in Scotland)
Environment	Pensions
Health and social services	Immigration
Housing	Defence
Income Tax	Foreign policy
Law and order	Employment
Local government	Broadcasting and telecommunications (including broadband)
Sport and the arts	Trade and industry
Tourism and economic development	Nuclear energy, oil, coal, gas and electricity
Many aspects of transport	Consumer rights
Air Passenger Duty, Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and Landfill Tax	Data protection
Some aspects of social security, including: disability benefits, Carer’s Allowance and Winter Fuel Allowance.	The Constitution