The Government of the United Kingdom is divided into departments that each have responsibility, according to the government, for putting government policy into practice. There are currently 24 ministerial departments, 20 non-ministerial departments, and 422 agencies and other public bodies, for a total of 465 departments.
Ministerial departments Ministerial departments are generally the most high-profile government departments and differ from the other two types of government departments in that they include ministers. A list of all ministerial departments is shown below.
Ministerial departmentMinister responsibleCivil servant responsibleAttorney General's OfficeAttorney GeneralDirector-GeneralCabinet OfficeFirst Secretary of StateMinister for the Cabinet OfficeChancellor of the Duchy of LancasterPermanent SecretaryChief Operating Officer of the Civil ServiceDepartment for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeSecretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and TradeInterim Permanent SecretaryDepartment for Digital, Culture, Media and SportSecretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and SportPermanent SecretaryDepartment for EducationSecretary of State for EducationPermanent SecretaryDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroSecretary of State for Energy Security and Net ZeroPermanent SecretaryDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsSecretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsPermanent SecretaryDepartment for TransportSecretary of State for TransportPermanent SecretaryDepartment for Work and PensionsSecretary of State for Work and PensionsPermanent SecretaryDepartment of Health and Social CareSecretary of State for Health and Social CarePermanent SecretaryExport Credits Guarantee DepartmentPresident of the Board of TradeChief ExecutiveForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeSecretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development AffairsInterim Permanent SecretaryHM TreasuryChancellor of the ExchequerSecond Lord of the TreasuryPermanent SecretaryHome OfficeSecretary of State for the Home DepartmentPermanent SecretaryMinistry of DefenceSecretary of State for DefencePermanent SecretaryMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentSecretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Governmenthttps://www.civilserviceworld.com/news/article/tom-riordan-lands-mhclg-top-jobMinistry of JusticeSecretary of State for JusticeLord Chancellor"Responsibilities: Oversight of all portfolios and Ministry of Justice strategy" Permanent SecretaryClerk of the Crown in ChanceryNorthern Ireland OfficeSecretary of State for Northern IrelandPermanent SecretaryOffice for the Prime Minister and CabinetPart of the Cabinet Office.Prime MinisterFirst Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the UnionMinister for the Civil ServiceCabinet SecretaryHead of the Civil ServiceOffice of the Advocate General for Scotland"The Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate General for Scotland report to the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Advocate General for Scotland respectively." Advocate General for ScotlandDirectorSolicitor to the Advocate General"The Director of OAG is responsible for overseeing all legal services provided by OAG to the UK government, and for overseeing delivery of OAG's objectives as set out in its Business Plan." Office of the Leader of the House of CommonsPart of the Cabinet Office.Leader of the House of CommonsLord President of the CouncilN/AOffice of the Leader of the House of LordsLeader of the House of LordsLord Privy SealN/AScotland OfficeSecretary of State for ScotlandDirectorWales OfficeSecretary of State for WalesDirector
Non-ministerial departments Non-ministerial government departments are headed by civil servants and usually have a regulatory or inspection function. A list of all non-ministerial departments is below.
Charity Commission for England and Wales Competition and Markets Authority Crown Prosecution Service Food Standards Agency Forestry Commission Government Actuary's Department Government Legal Department HM Land Registry HM Revenue and Customs National Savings and Investments National Archives National Crime Agency Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills Office of Gas and Electricity Markets Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation Office of Rail and Road Serious Fraud Office Supreme Court of the United Kingdom UK Statistics Authority Water Services Regulation Authority
Agencies and other public bodies Government departments in this third and final category can generally be split into five types: Executive agencies, which usually provide government services rather than decide policy Executive non-departmental public bodies, which do work for the government in specific areas Advisory non-departmental public bodies, which provide independent and expert advice to ministers Tribunal non-departmental public bodies, which are part of the justice system and have jurisdiction over a specific area of the law Independent monitoring boards, which are responsible for the running of prisons and the treatment of prisoners
See also Prime Minister's Office (United Kingdom) Politics of the United Kingdom Civil Service
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External links How government works - GOV.UK Departments, agencies and public bodies - GOV.UK