To illustrate the point - the new Government intends to shut down the Regional Development Agencies set up by the previous incumbents as part of their intention to ‘devolve’ powers regionally and locally. If these powers had been truly ‘devolved’ then those that originally enacted the devolution, in theory, would not be able to ‘take back’ the power. If Central Government retain the ‘power/ right’ to reclaim power, then ‘devolution’ will not in fact happen - technically it would actually be a form of ‘delegation’. The casual use of such terms, either out of clumsiness or ignorance, creates considerable confusion at best, and dashed expectations, break down of trust and withdrawal of contribiution at worst.
