Life in the UK test: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland practice questions

Memorise the three seats: Holyrood in Edinburgh, the Senedd in Cardiff, Stormont in Belfast. Schools and hospitals are devolved. Defence and foreign affairs stay with the UK Parliament.

Question 1

The Northern Ireland Assembly meets at which place?

  1. Holyrood
  2. The Senedd
  3. Stormont
  4. Sandringham

Answer: Stormont

The Northern Ireland Assembly meets at Stormont, in Belfast. Holyrood is the Scottish Parliament, the Senedd is in Cardiff, and Sandringham is a royal residence in Norfolk.

Question 2

Which legislature makes the laws on school education in Scotland?

  1. The Scottish Parliament
  2. Only the UK Parliament, with no Scottish say in schools
  3. The Senedd
  4. The Northern Ireland Assembly

Answer: The Scottish Parliament

School education is devolved, so the Scottish Parliament legislates for schools in Scotland. The Senedd does that for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly for Northern Ireland. Westminster keeps reserved matters such as defence.

Question 3

Which of these matters is reserved to the UK Parliament?

  1. Hospitals in Wales
  2. Schools in Scotland
  3. The health service in Northern Ireland
  4. Foreign affairs

Answer: Foreign affairs

Foreign affairs are reserved to the UK Parliament and government. Hospitals, schools and the health service are devolved, so Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own.