The new 129-member Scottish Parliament is expected to hold its first formal meeting next Wednesday or Thursday, for the purpose of electing the First Minister and a Presiding Officer. The First Minister - in effect Scotland's Prime Minister - will subsequently appoint ministers with departmental responsibilities for the powers devolved.
However, the newly-elected SMPs will not assume their full powers until after the official opening of the Parliament by Queen Elizabeth on July 1st.
Until the autumn of 2001 the parliament will sit in the Assembly Hall on the Mound in Edinburgh, pending completion of its permanent seat - an innovative creation designed by Enric Miralles of Barcelona and developed in conjunction with Edinburgh architects - at Holyrood.
It has been proposed the parliament should sit for some 30 to 33 weeks in the year, with sessions coinciding with school holidays and sitting times reflecting normal business hours. However, these arrangements are subject to confirmation by the new parliament in session.
A key function of the parliament will be conducted in committees expected to have a broad role in gathering evidence and considering legislation. The Scottish budget will continue to be set by Westminster. The parliament, however, will also have the power to vary income tax in Scotland by up to three pence, and will also control local authority expenditure, non-domestic rates and other local taxation.
The parliament will be responsible for, and legislate in the following areas: health, education and training, local government, economic development and transport, law and home affairs, environment, agriculture, fisheries and forestry, sports and the arts, and research and statistics.
The Secretary of State will work with the Scottish Parliament and represent Scottish interests in the cabinet in London. Westminster will retain responsibility for the constitution; foreign policy and relations with Europe; the stability of the UK's fiscal, economic and monetary system; employment and social security; aspects of transport safety and regulation; broadcasting policy and the National Lottery.
The Welsh National Assembly will also meet next week, on a day yet to be determined, and its powers will be in force from that time. The assembly will sit in Crickhowell House until the autumn of 2001, when the permanent Assembly Building at Pier Head in Cardiff will be complete. The official opening will be on May 26th.
The First Secretary of the assembly will be elected by a simple majority of the 60 members. He will appoint assembly secretaries with responsibilities for areas in which the assembly has functions, and they will each be accountable to the assembly. The First Secretary and assembly secretaries will comprise the executive committee, and all parties will be represented on a number of specialist committees. The assembly will have responsibility for a £7 billion budget, and will assume all the powers currently exercised by the Secretary of State.
The assembly will be able to make secondary legislation, in accordance with primary legislation enacted at Westminster, in respect of economic development; agriculture, forestry, fisheries and food; industry and training; education; local government; health and personal social services; housing; environment; town and country planning; transport and roads; arts, culture and the Welsh language; sport and recreation; and tourism.
In addition, the assembly will have powers to question, monitor and reduce the number of unelected public bodies - quangos - and will be able to debate matters it does not control.