Devolution is the delegation of power from a central government to local bodies.
This enables decisions to be made at a level closer to the point at which they will have an impact. The devolution settlement means that Scotland has a parliament with devolved powers within the United Kingdom. Any powers which remain with the UK Parliament at Westminster are reserved. Matters such as education, health and prisons, which used to be dealt with by the Parliament at Westminster, are now decided in Scotland. The Scottish Parliament operates as a self-contained and fully functioning Parliament in its own right.