Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Scottish Devolution: Identity And Impact And The Case Of Community Care For The Elderly, Gordon Marnoch

Gordon Marnoch

This article examines the emergent identity and impact of devolution in Scotland. Using the case of community care for the elderly, a model is set out for capturing the different interpretive perspectives evident in relation to a particular policy area in 1999–2001. The political story of the ‘free personal care’ issue, in which the Scottish Executive were unexpectedly forced into adopting a markedly different policy from the rest of the UK, is examined in some detail. Setting the episode in a broader context, four discursive thematics are identified in relation to the policy case. A model is demonstrated for examining …