There is a substantial policy area where the basic principles of policies have largely remained the same throughout the UK. With devolution, however, some lower-level differences have emerged during the implementation of the policies. These more subtle differences are often identifiable in administrative structures, strategies and action plans, and reflect differences in local needs, priorities or well-established practices. Quite significant policy areas can be seen as falling into this category, including the voluntary sector, housing, aspects of health and children's services. Also in this category are components of policy areas and examples discussed are direct payments, anti-poverty, child poverty and social inclusion strategies, early years and childcare strategies, children's services, overall health strategies, the regulation of social care and housing policies and strategies.

Voluntary sector

Since devolution the upward growth of voluntary organisations has continued, with an expansion in roles, functions and the voluntary workforce. Estimates vary, but there may be around 45,000 voluntary and community groups in Scotland, 28,000 in Wales, 5,000 in Northern Ireland, probably a substantial underestimate (Acheson, 2009) compared with some 140,000 in England. In each country the voluntary sector provides between 2% and 4% of employment. The introduction of devolution coincided with the separate production in each country of a compact, which set out a new relationship between the state and the voluntary sector, and clarified the way they would work with each other. All were couched in similar language. Wales made a stronger statement in setting out to establish a unique working relationship between the Welsh administration and the voluntary sector (see also Chapter Three for description). However, the actual operation of voluntary organisations under devolution mainly demonstrates more minor differences of policy and approach, despite the diversity of the sector. In all four countries the key themes and issues relating to the voluntary sector are the same, largely producing differences of emphasis in government action. These issues can be listed as: financial resources, service delivery contracts, charity law, social enterprise/social economy, support for umbrella organisations, work with hard-to-reach groups, specialist and innovative practice and volunteering. Devolution has also seen a general movement away from grant-based dependency and EU funding to mainstream funding and more long-term funding to promote sustainability. The continuing growth of contracts with statutory bodies has led voluntary organisations to become more business-like and bureaucratic.