UK Government

The British government (officially, Her Majesty’s Government or HMG for short) plays a major role in the lives of citizens of the UK, whether we like it or not.

Through parliament, government departments, the justice system, government agencies or local authorities, it is virtually impossible for people to avoid interaction with one or more of the tentacles of the government’s organisation.

Parliament, consisting of the House of Commons (elected) and the House of Lords (unelected) forms the foundations upon which the government is built. Before becoming law, all legislation must be considered and approved by parliament. Ministers in charge of government departments which carry out government policy are responsible to parliament for their actions.

UK Government Departments

The government is organised into a number of departments in order to facilitate effective administration and governance. Departments include:

The Foreign Office

The Foreign Office is responsible for the UK’s relations with the rest of the world. This involves dealing with the governments of individual countries as well as international organisations such as the European Union and the United Nations.

Home Office

The Home Office is responsible for a number of domestic issues. These include public order, immigration, the police and the fire service. The Home Office also has responsibility for the Identity and Passport Service, which is an executive agency of the Home Office.

Ministry of Justice

Formerly administered as part of Home Office, the Ministry of Justice is responsible for criminal law, the courts system, prisons and the probation service.

HM Treasury

The Treasury, headed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, is responsible for the government’s financial and economic policies including the UK’s Budget. It’s stated policy 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’ for the whole of the UK.

HM Revenue and Customs

HMRC was created in 2005 as a result of a merger between the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise. The department is responsible for the collection of direct taxes (e.g. income tax, capital gains tax, National Insurance contributions), indirect tax (e.g. Value Added Tax (VAT), Excise Duty, Stamp Duty) and payment of Child Benefit and tax credits. HMRC is also responsible for enforcement of the National Minimum Wage and administering student loans (in association with the Student Loans Company).

Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform

The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) is responsible for business matters within government. The department aims to promote business and enterprise throughout all regions of the UK.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The prime aim of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is to ‘secure a healthy, resilient, productive and diverse natural environment’ within the UK. DEFRA’s areas of responsibility include agriculture, food, conservation, sustainable development and dealing with climate change.

Department for Transport

The Department for Transport (DfT) is responsible for transport policy in the UK. The department works in association with the private sector and local government to achieve a balanced transport infrastructure.