Difference between revisions of "Scotland"

Revision as of 19:13, 25 March 2013 (view source) Ross Burgess (Talk | contribs) (→‎Local government) ← Older edit		Revision as of 19:14, 25 March 2013 (view source) Ross Burgess (Talk | contribs) (→‎Local government) Newer edit →
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	*[[Scottish Borders]]		*[[Scottish Borders]]
	*Western Isles		*Western Isles
−	*[[Na h-Eileanan Siar]]	+	**[[Na h-Eileanan Siar]]
	*Orkney		*Orkney
	**[[Orkney Islands]]		**[[Orkney Islands]]

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Revision as of 19:14, 25 March 2013

Scotland is one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom. It was historically an entrely separate kingdom, but became more closely linked with England when the crowns of the two countries were united under James I in 1603. It retained its own parliament and government until the Act of Union in 1707 formed the Kingdom of Great Britain. It always had a separate legal system and other institutions, and has had its own devolved parliament since 1999.

Local government

Local government in Scotland has been reorganised a number of times (1890, 1929, 1947, 1975, 1994). Currently there are 32 council areas (including three island areas). Police and fire services are still organised within eight areas corresponding to the pre-1994 regions, but as from 2013 there will be a national police service (Police Scotland)and a national fire service.

The map shows the pre-1994 regions and island areas, which are the most convenient to display at this scale.

The current local government areas may be grouped by (former) region as follows:

LGBT issues

Scotland was excluded from the Sexual Offences Act 1967 which partially legalised homosexuality in England and Wales; decriminalisation happened with the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980. See age of consent for progess since then.

Since devolution, Scotland has on some issues been ahead of the rest of the United Kingdom. For instance Patrick Harvie MSP proposed civil partnerships originally for Scotland alone (but this was in the end achieved by UK-wide legislation). In mid-2012 there seemed a real possiblity that equal marriage would be achieved first in Scotland.

LGBT organisations

Scotland has long had its own LGBT organisations, separate from those in England or Wales, including:

• Stonewall Scotland
• the Scottish Minorities Group
• Bi Scotland
• the Equality Network
• Gay Men's Health

External links

http://www.lgbthistoryscotland.org.uk/ LGBT History Scotland: