| Date |
Event |
| 1536 |
An Act of Union effectively makes Wales a region of England. |
| 1707 |
The Act of Union establishes Great Britain by uniting
Scotland and England, but devolves legal powers to Scotland. |
| 1885 |
The office of Secretary of State for Scotland is re-established
for the first time since 1746. |
| 1925 |
Plaid Cymru, the Welsh nationalist party, is founded. |
| 1928 |
Scottish Office established. |
| 1920s |
David Lloyd George leads the Cymru Fydd (Young Wales)
faction within the Liberal Party. |
| 1934 |
John MacCormack founds the Scottish National Party (SNP). |
| 1950s |
Conservative government appoints Ministers for Welsh Affairs
following a surge in support for Plaid Cymru. |
| 1964 |
Labour government establishes the Welsh Office with a
seat in the Cabinet. |
| Late
1960s |
The discovery of North Sea oil off the Scottish coast
leads to considerable resentment of London's exploitation
of a "Scottish" asset. Support for the SNP grows. |
| 1969 |
Royal Commission on the Constitution set up to report
on nationalism and the possibility of local and regional
government. |
| 1973 |
The commission recommends legislation and executive devolution
for Scotland and Wales. The proposals are rejected as unworkable. |
| 1978 |
Revised recommendations from the commission lead to the
Scotland Act and the Wales Act, both subject to referendums. |
| March
1979 |
Scottish and Welsh voters both reject devolution in the
referendums; more than 40 per cent of Scots do not bother
to vote. Shortly afterwards, the incoming Conservative government
repeals both acts. Devolution is declared "dead for
a generation". |
| July
1997 |
White paper on devolution published by the new Labour
government. |
| September
1997 |
Referendums held in Scotland and Wales. Both endorse proposals
for an assembly in their country, the Welsh by a very small
majority. |
| 1998 |
Scotland Act 1998 and the Government of Wales Bill introduced. |
| 6
May 1999 |
Elections to the Welsh and Scottish Assemblies. |
| 12
May 1999 |
First meeting of the Scottish Parliament. |
| 1
July 1999 |
Devolution Day. The Scottish Parliament assumes its full
powers in the presence of the Queen. |
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