GB Government Bodies

Cabinet Office external link
The Cabinet Office is at the centre of Government, coordinating policy and strategy across government departments. This website brings together information from units in the Department.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport external link
We aim to improve the quality of life for all through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries.

Department for Constitutional Affairs external link
We are responsible in government for upholding justice, rights and democracy.

Department for Education and Skills external link
The Department for Education and Skills was established with the purpose of creating opportunity, releasing potential and achieving excellence for all.

Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs external link
Defra works for the essentials of life: water, food, air, land, people, animals and plants.

Department for International Development external link
The Department for International Development (DFID) is the part of the UK Government that manages Britain's aid to poor countries and works to get rid of extreme poverty.

Department for Work and Pensions external link
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is here to: promote opportunity and independence for all, help individuals achieve their potential through employment and work to end poverty in all its forms.

Department for Transport external link
The Department for Transport's objective is to oversee the delivery of a reliable, safe and secure transport system that responds efficiently to the needs of individuals and business whilst safeguarding our environment.

Department of Health external link
The aim of the Department of Health (DH) is to improve the health and wellbeing of people in England. About us explains DH’s work, structure and responsibilities.

Department of Trade and Industry
DTI is working to create the conditions for business success and help the UK respond to the challenge of globalisation.

Directgov external link
Information about the United Kingdom and a step-by-step guide to government in the UK from 10 Downing Street to the regions, from the Houses of Parliament to the European Union.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office external link
The purpose of the FCO is to work for UK interests in a safe, just and prosperous world. We do this with some 16,000 staff, based in the UK and our overseas network of over 200 diplomatic offices.

HM Treasury external link
The Treasury is the United Kingdom's economics and finance ministry. It is responsible for formulating and implementing the Government's financial and economic policy. Its aim is to raise the rate of sustainable growth, and achieve rising prosperity and a better quality of life with economic and employment opportunities for all.

The Home Office
The Home Office is the government department responsible for internal affairs in England and Wales. We work to build a safe, just and tolerant society, to enhance opportunities for all, and to ensure the protection and security of the public is maintained.

The Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers external link
The Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers' objective is to provide high-grade legal advice and support to the Attorney General and the Solicitor General (the Law Officers). The Attorney General, assisted by the Solicitor General, is the chief legal adviser to the Government. The Attorney General also has certain public interest functions, for example, in taking action to protect charities.

Ministry of Defence external link
The key principles which provide the basis of work for Defence are defending the United Kingdom and its interests and strengthening international peace and stability. We achieve this by working together on our core task to produce battle-winning people and equipment that are: fit for the challenge of today; ready for the tasks of tomorrow; and capable of building for the future.

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister external link
The job of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is to help create sustainable communities, working with other Government departments, local councils, businesses, the voluntary sector, and communities themselves.

Office of the Leader of the House of Commons external link
The Office has two Ministers: The Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP is Leader of the House of Commons and Nigel Griffiths MP is Deputy Leader. The responsibilities of each Minister can be found in the Office & Ministers section.

Privy Council Office external link
The Privy Council is one of the oldest parts of Government, but it has, over time, adapted to reflect the fact that the United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy. Appointment to the Privy Council is for life, but only Ministers of the democratically elected Government of the day participate in its policy work.

The Stationery Office external link
TSO is the largest publisher in the UK by volume, publishing over 15,000 titles a year and providing a comprehensive range of document and publishing services. Privatised from HMSO (now OPSI) in 1996, we have a 200-year inheritance of secure, no-fail delivery as publisher to Her Majesty's Government and Parliament and in more recent years have become publisher for more commercial organisations.

Higher Education Funding Council for England external link
Working in partnership, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) promotes and funds high-quality, cost-effective teaching and research, meeting the diverse needs of students, the economy and society.

Higher Education Funding Council for Wales external link
The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) was established in May 1992 under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. Our mission is to promote internationally excellent higher education in Wales, for the benefit of individuals, society and the economy, in Wales and more widely.

Scottish Executive external link
The Scottish Executive is the devolved government for Scotland. It is responsible for most of the issues of day-to-day concern to the people of Scotland, including health, education, justice, rural affairs, and transport. It manages an annual budget of more than £27 billion in the financial year 2005-2006 which is due to rise to over £30 billion in 2007-2008.

Education and Learning Wales external link
ELWa is an Assembly Sponsored Public Body (ASPB) established by the Learning and Skills Act 2000. Its remit covers further education, government-supported training, adult community learning and school sixth forms. ELWa’s main statutory responsibilities are to: secure the provision of facilities for post-16 education and training in Wales (with the exception of higher education); encourage young people and adults to participate in learning; and encourage employers to participate in, and contribute to the costs of, post-16 education and training. ELWa starts from the belief that economic and social success for individuals, businesses and communities in Wales will be achieved through learning.

Repay external link
These Regulations may be cited as the Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 and shall come into operation on 10th December 2004 except for regulation 5 which shall come into operation on 6th April 2005.

Information Commissioner external link
The Information Commissioner's Office is the UK's independent public body set up to promote access to official information and to protect personal information. We regulate and enforce the Data Protection Act, the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations and the Environmental Information Regulations.

UK Parliament external link
This website includes information about the House of Commons and House of Lords in the UK.