A decade of devolution may have boosted Scottish and Welsh self-esteem and changed their politics. Whether it has been good for their public services is less certain.

In some areas, Scotland and Wales have set the policy pace. Scotland’s ban on smoking in public places paved the way for England and Wales. Wales became the first of the four UK countries to create a children’s commissioner, while its introduction of free National Health Service prescriptions is being emulated in Scotland. English ministers are extending the range of patients exempt from charges for their medicines.