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Institutions and Processes Government Departments To deliver policies and advise ministers central government is divided into a number of departments. Some departments have responsibility for the whole of the UK, others only for England depending on whether policy matters are devolved to regional governments or reserved to Westminster. The way government departments are organised changes, the most recent change occurred when Gordon Brown became Prime Minister in June 2007. Below is a brief description of the main central government departments.
This department brings together functions from the former Department of Trade and Industry, including responsibilities for enterprise, business relations, regional development, fair markets and energy policy and the Better Regulation Executive. The Cabinet Office is at the centre of government and co-ordinates policy and strategy across government departments. It includes several specialised units such as the Social Exclusion Task Force and the Office of the Third Sector. Ministers: Department for Children, Schools and Families The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) is responsible for children’s services, families, schools, 14-19 education, and the Respect Taskforce. The department leads work across governmnt to make sure all children are healthy and safe, secure an excellent education and the highest possible standards of acheivement, enjoy their childhood, make a positive contribution to society and the economy and have lives full of opportunity and free from the effects of poverty. Ministers: Department for Communities and Local Government Communities and Local Government sets UK policy on local government, housing, urban regeneration, planning and fire and rescue. The department has responsibility for all race equality and community cohesion related issues across Great Britain and for building regulations, fire safety and some housing issues in England and Wales. The rest of our work applies only to England. Ministers: Department for Culture, Media and Sport This department is responsible for government policy on the arts, sport, the National Lottery, tourism, libraries, museums and galleries, broadcasting, film, the music industry, the press, licensing, gambling and the historic environment Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Defra works to provide government policy and advice on environmental, agricultural and rural issues Foreign and Commonwealth Office The Foreign and Commonwealth
Office works for the United Kingdom's interests in a safe, just
and prosperous world. Its work is focused around nine objectives.
These are: The Home Office leads the national effort to protect the public from terror, crime and anti-social behaviour. Its work is to secure the UKs borders and welcome legal migrants and visitors. It is also responsible for identity and citizenship. Its objective is to build the security, justice and respect that enable people to prosper in a free and tolerant society. The Home Office's work related to immigration is conducted by the Borders and Immigration Agency which replaces the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. Ministers: The Department of Health aims to improve health and well-being for the people of England. It works to improve the quality and convenience of care provided by the NHS and social services. In terms of entitlement to services changes in the definition of overseas visitors who must pay for healthcare services mean that refused asylum seekers and undocumented migrants are ineligible for some types of healthcare services. Ministers: Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) brings together functions from the former Department of Trade and Industry, including responsibilities for science and innovation, with further and higher education and skills, previously part of the Department for Education and Skills. The Department will work closely with the new Departments for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) as well as other key Departments - including CLG and DCMS to ensure the wider personal, community and cultural benefits of education and science are supported. Ministers: Department for International Development (DfID) TheDepartment for International Development manages Britain's aid to poor countries and works to get rid of extreme poverty. The Department has been looking at the ways in which migration can contribute to development and reducing poverty and is participating in the UN High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development. Ministers: The Ministry of Justice takes over the functions of the former Department of Constitutional Affairs, the National Offender Management Service and the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. It is responsible for upholding justice, rights and democracy. This includes the running of the courts and the justice system and ensuring the inclusion of human rights law. The Legal Services Commission which administers Legal Aid and Community Legal Services is a core component of the Ministry. Ministers: Department for Transport (DfT) The Department for Transport's objective is to oversee the delivery of a reliable safe and secure transport system Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Contact details for the Department for Work and Pensions. DWP is responsible for the government's welfare reform agenda. Delivering support and advice to people of working age, employers, disabled people, pensioners, families and children Ministers:
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