VOTING FOR A NEW BRITAIN: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE VOTES ARE CAST?

Scotland

How life

could change

Wales

How life

could change

Tax

Basic rate of income tax can be varied by up to 3p.

Labour committed not to increase tax in first Parliament

Assembly has no tax raising powers

No change

Education

Total responsibility and can set its own priorities

Tuition fees for students living in could be abolished

Set the national curriculum; funding and appointments for education bodies

Nursery places for all 3-year-olds. Improve vocational training and education for over-16s

Health

Total control, except drugs regulation and abortion law

More public money for new hospitals if opposition to private financing grows

Funding and making appointments to NHS bodies

Cut waiting lists, starting with cateract operations. Access for all to NHS dentists

Transport

Total control except for aviation, shipping safety, some traffic regulations

Subsidies for rural transport, cuts in fuel duties,abolition of Skye Bridge tolls

Town and country planning policy, maintain trunk roads.

pounds 3m increase to pounds 2.25m rural bus subsidy. Free public transport for OAPs

Law & Order

Criminal and civil law, criminal justice, courts, prosecution system, police, fire services

Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency to be set up

The English and Welsh legal systems have been fully integrated for hundreds of years

No real differences

Economy/

Industry

Monetary policy competition law, consumer protection decided by London

Spur entrepreneurs, build skills base. Review of Uniform Business Rate

Monetary,fiscal policy, competition law and consumer protection decided by London

Attracting funds to match pounds 1.3bn EU money to regenerate economy, create jobs

Agriculture

Total control, but Brussels increasingly influences decision making

Beef on the bone ban could be lifted earlier. Main parties all called for an immediate end

Control animal welfare, pests and fisheries

Possible end to ban on beef on the bone. pounds 21m in additional help for farmers

Environment

Powers devolved. 's tourist industry reliant on beautiful countryside

First national parks to be established at Loch Lomond and the Cairngorms

Funding and appointments for Environment Agency

Agri-environmental scheme unique to Wales to attract 600 new farms each year

Housing

Total control over spending

Sellers to pay for surveys to stop buyers paying 3 or 4 times before buying

Allocate resources to local authorities and housing associations

Attract private finance to tackle pounds 1bn council house repair bill

Land

Total control in area that has been controversial since the Highland clearances

Greater public access and community ownership. Ending the feudal system

Oversee coastal protection, flood prevention and land drainage

A new scheme to achieve sustainable development of Welsh National Parks