Northern Ireland Assembly vs Welsh Senedd: what to know
Struggling to separate the Northern Ireland Assembly from the Welsh Senedd under exam pressure? This guide distils only what the Life in the UK Test official handbook (A Guide for New Residents, 3rd edition) teaches, so you memorise what counts and avoid trick questions.
Below, you will get handbook-aligned definitions, devolved vs reserved examples, three-way Scotland comparisons, and smart practice tips using the Life in the UK Test App.
Scope and source: stick to the official handbook
This article follows the Life in the UK Test official handbook (3rd edition) for every fact and example. Where the world has changed, we still prioritise the handbook’s wording and emphasis because that is what the test examines.
Focus: devolved governments in the UK, especially the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Welsh Senedd.
Coverage: what each body is, where it meets, typical devolved areas, and core reserved matters.
Exam-first: we highlight the contrasts the test uses in multiple-choice questions.
For wider syllabus context, see our overview: Life in the UK Test Topics: The Definitive Syllabus.
Want an official frame of reference? See GOV.UK’s devolution overview for background reading alongside your handbook: Devolution in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland Assembly — role and responsibilities
Handbook definition: The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature for Northern Ireland. It makes laws on a range of domestic matters while other issues remain the responsibility of the UK Parliament.
Definition and location
The Assembly meets at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, in Belfast. In the Life in the UK Test, place-and-name questions often hinge on this pairing: Assembly — Stormont — Belfast.
Examples of devolved areas
The handbook groups typical devolved powers as services affecting daily life. Representative examples include:
Education and training
Health and social services
Transport
Agriculture and the environment
Culture, language and sport
Housing and local government
For background reading on Northern Ireland’s devolution journey, see the UK government’s overview PDF: Introduction to Devolution.
Welsh Parliament (Senedd) — role and responsibilities
Handbook definition: Wales has its own devolved legislature. In the handbook you may see the earlier name, the National Assembly for Wales; it is now the Welsh Parliament, known as the Senedd. It makes laws on a range of domestic matters for Wales.
Definition and location
The Welsh legislature meets in Cardiff. For the test, remember the pairing: Welsh Parliament/Senedd — Cardiff.
Examples of devolved areas
As with Northern Ireland, typical devolved areas highlighted in the handbook include:
Education
Health
Transport
Agriculture and the environment
Culture and sport
Local government
For a plain-English description of the Senedd’s role (useful as a cross-check to your handbook notes), see the Welsh Local Government Association’s overview: What is the Senedd?
Where they’re alike — and where they differ (test cues)
Both bodies are devolved legislatures making laws on domestic issues; neither handles the UK’s sovereign matters. The test often checks whether you keep the shared pattern straight while remembering their distinct locations and names.
Shared devolution themes
Local decision-making on public services such as education, health and transport.
UK Parliament retains nationwide responsibilities (see reserved matters below).
Names and places matter for quick identification: Assembly/Stormont/Belfast vs Senedd/Cardiff.
Feature | Northern Ireland Assembly | Welsh Parliament (Senedd) |
|---|---|---|
Type | Devolved legislature | Devolved legislature |
Location | Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast | Cardiff |
Typical devolved areas | Education, health, transport, agriculture/environment, culture, local government | Education, health, transport, agriculture/environment, culture, local government |
Not responsible for | Defence, foreign affairs, immigration, overall economic policy | Defence, foreign affairs, immigration, overall economic policy |
Reserved matters you should never mis-assign
In the handbook, these are UK-wide responsibilities retained by the UK Parliament. Do not attribute them to the Northern Ireland Assembly or the Welsh Senedd:
Defence and national security
Foreign affairs
Immigration and nationality
Overall economic policy (for example, the currency and the national Budget)
Background reading on the reserved approach is available from GOV.UK’s devolution explainer: Devolution guidance.
Scotland in context — rounding out your comparisons
The handbook frequently mentions the three devolved legislatures together. A quick Scottish refresher prevents mix-ups on three-way questions.
Scottish basics for the test
Name and place: Scottish Parliament, meets in Edinburgh. Brush up with our quick facts: Scotland Capital City Key Facts.
Role: Devolved legislature making laws on domestic matters such as education, health, transport, agriculture/environment, culture and local government.
Not responsible for reserved UK matters listed in the section above.
Common exam traps when comparing NI and Wales
These are the slip-ups the handbook coverage helps you avoid. Keep them in mind when you scan answer choices.
Name and place mix-ups
Stormont goes with Belfast and the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Cardiff goes with the Welsh Parliament (Senedd).
Edinburgh goes with the Scottish Parliament.
Short on time? Skim our capital-city refreshers for Northern Ireland and Wales.
Assigning reserved matters to devolved bodies
If the option mentions defence, foreign affairs, immigration or the UK’s overall economic policy, select the UK Parliament rather than a devolved body.
When in doubt, ask: Is this a nationwide sovereign issue? If yes, it is reserved.
For more pitfalls to avoid across the test, see 7 Common Life in the UK Test Mistakes to Avoid.
Train smarter with the Life in the UK Test App
Most candidates do not fail for lack of effort — they fail because their practice is unfocused. The Life in the UK Test App keeps you on the handbook’s essentials and accelerates recall on devolved vs reserved topics.
Beat overwhelm: Brit-Bear, your smart assistant, curates the exact pages and questions you need next.
Use time precisely: A personalised readiness score shows when you are exam-ready.
Fix mistakes fast: 650+ questions with clear explanations highlight why an answer is right or wrong.
Simulate pressure: Mock tests with Hard Mode mirror the real exam’s intensity.
Study anywhere: Full offline access.
Create a NI–Wales drill set
Open the question bank and filter by devolution topics.
Add questions mentioning Northern Ireland, Wales, and reserved matters.
Enable explanations to see handbook-aligned reasoning after each item.
Repeat missed questions until correct twice in a row.
Measure, review, and close gaps
Watch your readiness score for NI vs Wales items trend upward.
Use explanations to reinforce location-name pairs: Stormont/Belfast vs Senedd/Cardiff.
Switch to Hard Mode mocks to stress-test your recall under time limits.
Download and start now
Get the app and focus on what the handbook actually tests:
Download on App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6743702124
Get it on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.briceventures.life_in_the_uk_test
Quick-reference recap
Use this concise list right before your mock test or the real exam.
Northern Ireland Assembly: Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast. Devolved: education, health, transport, agriculture/environment, culture, local government.
Welsh Parliament (Senedd): Cardiff. Devolved: education, health, transport, agriculture/environment, culture, local government.
Reserved to the UK Parliament: defence, foreign affairs, immigration, overall economic policy.
FAQ
Is policing devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly or the Welsh Senedd?
For the Life in the UK Test, rely on the handbook’s general pattern: domestic services are devolved; nationwide sovereign matters are reserved. Do not learn extra detail beyond the handbook for this exam.
Does the handbook use the term Senedd?
The 3rd edition often refers to the National Assembly for Wales. The legislature is now called the Welsh Parliament (the Senedd), but learn the role and location as presented in the handbook.
Which UK issues are always reserved for this test?
Defence, foreign affairs, immigration and overall economic policy belong to the UK Parliament.
Where does the Northern Ireland Assembly meet?
At Parliament Buildings, Stormont, in Belfast.
Where does the Welsh Parliament (Senedd) meet?
Cardiff.