CINXE.COM

How government works - GOV.UK

<!DOCTYPE html> <!--[if lt IE 9]><html class="lte-ie8 govuk-template" lang="en"><![endif]--><!--[if gt IE 8]><!--><html class="govuk-template" lang="en"> <!--<![endif]--> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("http://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("https://www.gov.uk/government/how-government-works","20220928004055","http://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1664325655"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" /> <!-- End Wayback Rewrite JS Include --> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="csrf-token" content="94lSyS8NNhX5ZP8_Pa8_hAOK2yDxdSYdqB2jcVr9Zuxxa5C8ZjZS8zsf5Ju8Y5Z1JQXZNwENlwQLr1nY-s271A"> <meta name="csrf-param" content="authenticity_token"> <meta name="description" content="In the UK, the Prime Minister leads the government with the support of the Cabinet and ministers. You can find out who runs government and how government is run, as well as learning about the history of government."> <meta content="320" name="MobileOptimized"> <meta content="True" name="HandheldFriendly"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <title>How government works - GOV.UK</title> <script src="/web/20220928004055js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk_publishing_components/vendor/lux/lux-measurer-505eef3e243b1d08ea7c4b945ebe1ae146d896db61366e415b30cc1bcd84cbdc.js" async="async"></script> <script src="/web/20220928004055js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk_publishing_components/rum-loader-c53469dcb841d7b228c914a2e8bdcf3b831a578adf7d4f21cf9da5b85df7381e.js" async="async" data-lux-reporter-script="/assets/static/govuk_publishing_components/vendor/lux/lux-reporter-0630526d2811f955ec5e421a6233bd828938bf706c2481233ef4efb8831d0625.js"></script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20220928004055cs_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/application-4d0a30e4ea17a02c4ff0e896efebbf3cf3eedb16204f9a9111fb075418950d6c.css" media="all"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20220928004055cs_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/print-bec47bfcef04d828411851a031b4ff4de7144980b52046d17755e41959083555.css" media="print"> <!--[if lt IE 9]><script src="/assets/static/govuk_publishing_components/ie-94963d6661190bc897905bbbe222a31c7ca0aff3a3b9f808ba15d4cd90780a9b.js" crossorigin="anonymous" integrity="sha256-pFJFRKU9V6fiWbS7lmucMlV8mMkgt35S0JMEZCtoQBo="></script><![endif]--> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/web/20220928004055im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/favicon-9ed7849c462c53aa2cdf1690eb257e801ecbf5696d1d0928868c5b032b4adb36.ico" type="image/x-icon"> <link rel="mask-icon" href="/web/20220928004055im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-mask-icon-a409a4db4a5e72c99ae3916653710064c43eb4be35821f79c07c5156e7dc5808.svg" color="#0b0c0c"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/web/20220928004055im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-apple-touch-icon-180x180-026deaa34fa328ae5f1f519a37dbd15e6555c5086e1ba83986cd0827a7209902.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="167x167" href="/web/20220928004055im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-apple-touch-icon-167x167-a44a5b317f51a61950697fbe6c61ffe3b5acdd89de60ef70429daa32881d5279.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="152x152" href="/web/20220928004055im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-apple-touch-icon-152x152-828a839e5c83de19f98014eef54cec77aa11063a23ce321970d6f9310eeabb6c.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/web/20220928004055im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-apple-touch-icon-5f801db05920bd1eb2b27a7a90328599bb16b6344c3213795af0f20d3ca179b0.png"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#0b0c0c"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta property="og:image" content="/web/20220928004055im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-opengraph-image-dade2dad5775023b0568381c4c074b86318194edb36d3d68df721eea7deeac4b.png"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20220928004055cs_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/whitehall/frontend/base-9ca3d4d58cd14710626b3ebce655c07769be0701458fa01fa949ef0b544953c4.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20220928004055cs_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/whitehall/frontend/print-c7e34760c71b9f0c110bd991a4a2625a31c22b4d06fb1317c1f23561a2769191.css" media="print"> <link rel="alternate" type="application/atom+xml" title="Recent updates" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/feed"> <meta name="govuk:rendering-application" content="whitehall"> </head> <body class="gem-c-layout-for-public govuk-template__body website government"> <script> document.body.className = ((document.body.className) ? document.body.className + ' js-enabled' : 'js-enabled'); </script> <a class="gem-c-skip-link govuk-skip-link govuk-!-display-none-print" data-module="govuk-skip-link" href="#content">Skip to main content</a> <div id="global-cookie-message" class="gem-c-cookie-banner govuk-clearfix" data-module="cookie-banner" role="region" aria-label="cookie banner" data-nosnippet> <div class="govuk-cookie-banner js-banner-wrapper" role="region" aria-label="Cookies on GOV.UK"> <div class="gem-c-cookie-banner__message govuk-cookie-banner__message govuk-width-container"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <h2 class="govuk-cookie-banner__heading govuk-heading-m">Cookies on GOV.UK</h2> <div class="govuk-cookie-banner__content"> <p class="govuk-body">We use some essential cookies to make this website work.</p> <p class="govuk-body">We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.</p> <p class="govuk-body">We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-button-group"> <button class="gem-c-button govuk-button" type="submit" data-module="gem-track-click" data-accept-cookies="true" data-track-category="cookieBanner" data-track-action="Cookie banner accepted" data-cookie-types="all">Accept additional cookies</button> <button class="gem-c-button govuk-button" type="submit" data-module="gem-track-click" data-reject-cookies="true" data-track-category="cookieBanner" data-track-action="Cookie banner rejected">Reject additional cookies</button> <a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/help/cookies">View cookies</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gem-c-cookie-banner__confirmation govuk-width-container" tabindex="-1" hidden> <p class="gem-c-cookie-banner__confirmation-message" role="alert">You can <a class="govuk-link" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-category="cookieBanner" data-track-action="Cookie banner settings clicked from confirmation" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/help/cookies">change your cookie settings</a> at any time.</p> <div class="govuk-button-group"> <button class="gem-c-cookie-banner__hide-button govuk-button" data-hide-cookie-banner="true" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-category="cookieBanner" data-track-action="Hide cookie banner">Hide this message</button> </div> </div> </div> <header role="banner" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-links-only> <div class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__container govuk-width-container govuk-clearfix"> <div class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__header-logo"> <a class="govuk-header__link govuk-header__link--homepage" data-track-action="logoLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="https://www.gov.uk" data-track-dimension="GOV.UK" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/" id="logo" title="Go to the GOV.UK homepage"> <span class="govuk-header__logotype"> <!--[if gt IE 8]><!--> <svg aria-hidden="true" class="govuk-header__logotype-crown gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__logotype-crown" focusable="false" height="30" viewbox="0 0 132 97" width="36" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="M25 30.2c3.5 1.5 7.7-.2 9.1-3.7 1.5-3.6-.2-7.8-3.9-9.2-3.6-1.4-7.6.3-9.1 3.9-1.4 3.5.3 7.5 3.9 9zM9 39.5c3.6 1.5 7.8-.2 9.2-3.7 1.5-3.6-.2-7.8-3.9-9.1-3.6-1.5-7.6.2-9.1 3.8-1.4 3.5.3 7.5 3.8 9zM4.4 57.2c3.5 1.5 7.7-.2 9.1-3.8 1.5-3.6-.2-7.7-3.9-9.1-3.5-1.5-7.6.3-9.1 3.8-1.4 3.5.3 7.6 3.9 9.1zm38.3-21.4c3.5 1.5 7.7-.2 9.1-3.8 1.5-3.6-.2-7.7-3.9-9.1-3.6-1.5-7.6.3-9.1 3.8-1.3 3.6.4 7.7 3.9 9.1zm64.4-5.6c-3.6 1.5-7.8-.2-9.1-3.7-1.5-3.6.2-7.8 3.8-9.2 3.6-1.4 7.7.3 9.2 3.9 1.3 3.5-.4 7.5-3.9 9zm15.9 9.3c-3.6 1.5-7.7-.2-9.1-3.7-1.5-3.6.2-7.8 3.7-9.1 3.6-1.5 7.7.2 9.2 3.8 1.5 3.5-.3 7.5-3.8 9zm4.7 17.7c-3.6 1.5-7.8-.2-9.2-3.8-1.5-3.6.2-7.7 3.9-9.1 3.6-1.5 7.7.3 9.2 3.8 1.3 3.5-.4 7.6-3.9 9.1zM89.3 35.8c-3.6 1.5-7.8-.2-9.2-3.8-1.4-3.6.2-7.7 3.9-9.1 3.6-1.5 7.7.3 9.2 3.8 1.4 3.6-.3 7.7-3.9 9.1zM69.7 17.7l8.9 4.7V9.3l-8.9 2.8c-.2-.3-.5-.6-.9-.9L72.4 0H59.6l3.5 11.2c-.3.3-.6.5-.9.9l-8.8-2.8v13.1l8.8-4.7c.3.3.6.7.9.9l-5 15.4v.1c-.2.8-.4 1.6-.4 2.4 0 4.1 3.1 7.5 7 8.1h.2c.3 0 .7.1 1 .1.4 0 .7 0 1-.1h.2c4-.6 7.1-4.1 7.1-8.1 0-.8-.1-1.7-.4-2.4V34l-5.1-15.4c.4-.2.7-.6 1-.9zM66 92.8c16.9 0 32.8 1.1 47.1 3.2 4-16.9 8.9-26.7 14-33.5l-9.6-3.4c1 4.9 1.1 7.2 0 10.2-1.5-1.4-3-4.3-4.2-8.7L108.6 76c2.8-2 5-3.2 7.5-3.3-4.4 9.4-10 11.9-13.6 11.2-4.3-.8-6.3-4.6-5.6-7.9 1-4.7 5.7-5.9 8-.5 4.3-8.7-3-11.4-7.6-8.8 7.1-7.2 7.9-13.5 2.1-21.1-8 6.1-8.1 12.3-4.5 20.8-4.7-5.4-12.1-2.5-9.5 6.2 3.4-5.2 7.9-2 7.2 3.1-.6 4.3-6.4 7.8-13.5 7.2-10.3-.9-10.9-8-11.2-13.8 2.5-.5 7.1 1.8 11 7.3L80.2 60c-4.1 4.4-8 5.3-12.3 5.4 1.4-4.4 8-11.6 8-11.6H55.5s6.4 7.2 7.9 11.6c-4.2-.1-8-1-12.3-5.4l1.4 16.4c3.9-5.5 8.5-7.7 10.9-7.3-.3 5.8-.9 12.8-11.1 13.8-7.2.6-12.9-2.9-13.5-7.2-.7-5 3.8-8.3 7.1-3.1 2.7-8.7-4.6-11.6-9.4-6.2 3.7-8.5 3.6-14.7-4.6-20.8-5.8 7.6-5 13.9 2.2 21.1-4.7-2.6-11.9.1-7.7 8.8 2.3-5.5 7.1-4.2 8.1.5.7 3.3-1.3 7.1-5.7 7.9-3.5.7-9-1.8-13.5-11.2 2.5.1 4.7 1.3 7.5 3.3l-4.7-15.4c-1.2 4.4-2.7 7.2-4.3 8.7-1.1-3-.9-5.3 0-10.2l-9.5 3.4c5 6.9 9.9 16.7 14 33.5 14.8-2.1 30.8-3.2 47.7-3.2z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"> </path> </svg> <!--<![endif]--> <!--[if IE 8]> <img src="/assets/static/govuk-logotype-crown-66ad9a9b8fca42cf0ba18979eef6afc2e8056d5f158ca9b27ce9afdf852aae87.png" alt="" class="govuk-header__logotype-crown-fallback-image" width="36" height="32"> <![endif]--> <span class="govuk-header__logotype-text"> GOV.UK </span> </span> </a> </div> <nav aria-labelledby="super-navigation-menu-heading" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__content" data-module="super-navigation-mega-menu"> <h2 id="super-navigation-menu-heading" class="govuk-visually-hidden"> Navigation menu </h2> <button aria-controls="super-navigation-menu" aria-expanded="true" aria-label="Hide navigation menu" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-top-toggle-button" data-text-for-hide="Hide navigation menu" data-text-for-show="Show navigation menu" data-toggle-desktop-group="hidden" data-toggle-mobile-group="top" data-tracking-key="menu" hidden id="super-navigation-menu-toggle" type="button"> <span class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-top-toggle-button-inner"> Menu </span> </button> <ul id="super-navigation-menu" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-items"> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item--with-children"> <div class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-toggle-wrapper govuk-clearfix"> <a class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse" data-track-dimension="Topics" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse"> <span class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item-link-inner"> Topics </span> </a> <button aria-controls="super-navigation-menu__section-502ae087" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Show Topics menu" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-toggle-button" data-text-for-hide="Hide Topics menu" data-text-for-show="Show Topics menu" data-toggle-desktop-group="top" data-toggle-mobile-group="second" data-tracking-key="topics" hidden="hidden" id="super-navigation-menu__section-502ae087-toggle" type="button"> <span class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-toggle-button-inner">Topics</span> </button> </div> <div hidden class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-dropdown-menu" id="super-navigation-menu__section-502ae087"> <div class="govuk-width-container gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__width-container"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third-from-desktop"> <h3 class="govuk-body-l gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__menu-description"> Find information and services </h3> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds-from-desktop"> <ul class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-items gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-items--topics"> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/benefits" data-track-dimension="Benefits" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits">Benefits</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/births-deaths-marriages" data-track-dimension="Births, death, marriages and care" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/births-deaths-marriages">Births, death, marriages and care</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/business" data-track-dimension="Business and self-employed" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/business">Business and self-employed</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/childcare-parenting" data-track-dimension="Childcare and parenting" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/childcare-parenting">Childcare and parenting</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/citizenship" data-track-dimension="Citizenship and living in the UK" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship">Citizenship and living in the UK</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/cost-of-living" data-track-dimension="Cost of living support" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/cost-of-living">Cost of living support</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/justice" data-track-dimension="Crime, justice and the law" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/justice">Crime, justice and the law</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/disabilities" data-track-dimension="Disabled people" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/disabilities">Disabled people</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/driving" data-track-dimension="Driving and transport" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving">Driving and transport</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/education" data-track-dimension="Education and learning" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/education">Education and learning</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/employing-people" data-track-dimension="Employing people" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/employing-people">Employing people</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/environment-countryside" data-track-dimension="Environment and countryside" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/environment-countryside">Environment and countryside</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/housing-local-services" data-track-dimension="Housing and local services" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/housing-local-services">Housing and local services</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/tax" data-track-dimension="Money and tax" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/tax">Money and tax</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/abroad" data-track-dimension="Passports, travel and living abroad" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/abroad">Passports, travel and living abroad</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/visas-immigration" data-track-dimension="Visas and immigration" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration">Visas and immigration</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/working" data-track-dimension="Working, jobs and pensions" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/working">Working, jobs and pensions</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item--with-children"> <div class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-toggle-wrapper govuk-clearfix"> <a class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item-link" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/news-and-communications" data-track-dimension="Government activity" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/search/news-and-communications"> <span class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item-link-inner"> Government activity </span> </a> <button aria-controls="super-navigation-menu__section-ab0099af" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Show Government activity menu" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-toggle-button" data-text-for-hide="Hide Government activity menu" data-text-for-show="Show Government activity menu" data-toggle-desktop-group="top" data-toggle-mobile-group="second" data-tracking-key="governmentactivity" hidden="hidden" id="super-navigation-menu__section-ab0099af-toggle" type="button"> <span class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-toggle-button-inner">Government activity</span> </button> </div> <div hidden class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-dropdown-menu" id="super-navigation-menu__section-ab0099af"> <div class="govuk-width-container gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__width-container"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third-from-desktop"> <h3 class="govuk-body-l gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__menu-description"> Search for a department and find out what the government is doing </h3> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds-from-desktop"> <ul class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-items gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-items--government-activity"> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/government/organisations" data-track-dimension="Departments" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations">Departments</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">Departments, agencies and public bodies</p> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/news-and-communications" data-track-dimension="News" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/search/news-and-communications">News</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">News stories, speeches, letters and notices</p> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/guidance-and-regulation" data-track-dimension="Guidance and regulation" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/search/guidance-and-regulation">Guidance and regulation</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">Detailed guidance, regulations and rules</p> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/research-and-statistics" data-track-dimension="Research and statistics" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics">Research and statistics</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">Reports, analysis and official statistics</p> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/policy-papers-and-consultations" data-track-dimension="Policy papers and consultations" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/search/policy-papers-and-consultations">Policy papers and consultations</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">Consultations and strategy</p> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases" data-track-dimension="Transparency" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases">Transparency</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports</p> </li> </ul> <hr class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-footer-break govuk-section-break govuk-section-break--visible"> <ul class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-footer-list"> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-footer-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-footer-link" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/government/how-government-works" data-track-dimension="How government works" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/how-government-works">How government works</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-footer-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-footer-link" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/government/get-involved" data-track-dimension="Get involved" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/get-involved">Get involved</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> <button aria-controls="super-search-menu" aria-expanded="true" aria-label="Hide search menu" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-toggle-button" data-text-for-hide="Hide search menu" data-text-for-show="Show search menu" data-toggle-mobile-group="top" data-toggle-desktop-group="top" data-tracking-key="search" hidden id="super-search-menu-toggle" type="button"> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden"> Search GOV.UK </span> <svg class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-toggle-button-link-icon" width="27" height="27" viewbox="0 0 27 27" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"> <circle cx="12.0161" cy="11.0161" r="8.51613" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></circle> <line x1="17.8668" y1="17.3587" x2="26.4475" y2="25.9393" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></line> </svg> <span aria-hidden="true" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-top-toggle-close-icon" focusable="false"> × </span> </button> <div id="super-search-menu" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-items"> <h3 class="govuk-visually-hidden"> Search </h3> <div class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-item"> <a class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-item-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/search"> <span class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-item-link-text"> Search GOV.UK </span> <svg class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-item-link-icon" width="27" height="27" viewbox="0 0 27 27" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"> <circle cx="10.0161" cy="10.0161" r="8.51613" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></circle> <line x1="15.8668" y1="16.3587" x2="25.4475" y2="25.9393" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></line> </svg> </a> </div> <div class="govuk-width-container gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-and-popular"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-full"> <form class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-form" id="search" action="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/search" method="get" role="search" aria-label="Site-wide"> <div class="gem-c-search govuk-!-display-none-print gem-c-search--large gem-c-search--on-white gem-c-search--separate-label" data-module="gem-toggle-input-class-on-focus"> <label for="search-main-18618f42" class="govuk-label govuk-label--m">Search GOV.UK</label> <div class="gem-c-search__item-wrapper"> <input enterkeyhint="search" class="gem-c-search__item gem-c-search__input js-class-toggle" id="search-main-18618f42" name="q" title="Search" type="search" value=""> <div class="gem-c-search__item gem-c-search__submit-wrapper"> <button class="gem-c-search__submit" type="submit" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-action="searchSubmitted" data-track-label="/search/all" data-track-dimension="Search on GOV.UK" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-module="gem-track-click" enterkeyhint="search"> Search <svg class="gem-c-search__icon" width="27" height="27" viewbox="0 0 27 27" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"> <circle cx="12.0161" cy="11.0161" r="8.51613" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></circle> <line x1="17.8668" y1="17.3587" x2="26.4475" y2="25.9393" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></line> </svg> </button> </div> </div> </div> <input type="hidden" name="show_organisations_filter" value="true"> </form> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-full"> <h3 class="govuk-heading-m">Popular on GOV.UK</h3> <ul class="govuk-list"> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-link" data-track-action="popularLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/check-benefits-financial-support" data-track-dimension="Check benefits and financial support you can get" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/check-benefits-financial-support">Check benefits and financial support you can get</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-link" data-track-action="popularLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/government/publications/energy-bills-support/energy-bills-support-factsheet-8-september-2022" data-track-dimension="Limits on energy prices: Energy Price Guarantee" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-bills-support/energy-bills-support-factsheet-8-september-2022">Limits on energy prices: Energy Price Guarantee</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-link" data-track-action="popularLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/find-a-job" data-track-dimension="Find a job" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/find-a-job">Find a job</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-link" data-track-action="popularLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/coronavirus" data-track-dimension="Coronavirus (COVID-19)" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus">Coronavirus (COVID-19)</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__popular-link" data-track-action="popularLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/sign-in-universal-credit" data-track-dimension="Universal Credit account: sign in" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/sign-in-universal-credit">Universal Credit account: sign in</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </header> <div class="gem-c-layout-for-public__blue-bar govuk-width-container"></div> <div id="whitehall-wrapper-slimmer"> <div id="wrapper" class="govuk-width-container"> <main id="content" role="main" class="whitehall-content"> <div id="page" class="inside_gov_how-gov-works"> <div class="govuk-width-container"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <div class="gem-c-title govuk-!-margin-top-8 govuk-!-margin-bottom-8"> <h1 class="gem-c-title__text govuk-heading-xl"> How government works </h1> </div> <p class="gem-c-lead-paragraph">In the UK, the Prime Minister leads the government with the support of the Cabinet and ministers. You can find out <a class="govuk-link" href="#who-runs-government">who runs government</a> and <a class="govuk-link" href="#how-government-is-run">how government is run</a>, as well as learning about the <a class="govuk-link" href="#history-uk-government">history of government</a>.</p> <hr class="govuk-section-break govuk-section-break--s govuk-section-break--visible govuk-!-margin-bottom-4"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-width-container"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <div class="govuk-!-margin-bottom-9"> <nav class="gem-c-contents-list" aria-label="Pages in this guide" role="navigation" data-module="gem-track-click"> <h2 class="gem-c-contents-list__title"> Contents </h2> <ol class="gem-c-contents-list__list"> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 1" data-track-label="#who-runs-government" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Who runs government&quot;}" href="#who-runs-government">Who runs government</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 2" data-track-label="#how-government-is-run" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;How government is run&quot;}" href="#how-government-is-run">How government is run</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 3" data-track-label="#civil-service" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Civil service&quot;}" href="#civil-service">Civil service</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 4" data-track-label="#get-involved" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Get involved&quot;}" href="#get-involved">Get involved</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 5" data-track-label="#legislation" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Legislation&quot;}" href="#legislation">Legislation</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 6" data-track-label="#access-to-information" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Access to information&quot;}" href="#access-to-information">Access to information</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 7" data-track-label="#devolved-government" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Devolved government&quot;}" href="#devolved-government">Devolved government</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 8" data-track-label="#local-government" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Local government&quot;}" href="#local-government">Local government</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 9" data-track-label="#parliament" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Parliament&quot;}" href="#parliament">Parliament</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link govuk-link--no-underline" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 10" data-track-label="#history-uk-government" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;History of government&quot;}" href="#history-uk-government">History of government</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> <section> <h2 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-l govuk-!-margin-bottom-4" id="who-runs-government">Who runs government</h2> <section class="govuk-!-margin-bottom-9 prime-minister"> <h3 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-m govuk-!-margin-bottom-4">The Prime Minister</h3> <p class="govuk-body">The <a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/prime-minister">Prime Minister</a> is the leader of His Majesty’s Government and is ultimately responsible for all policy and decisions.</p> <p class="govuk-body">The Prime Minister also:</p> <ul class="gem-c-list govuk-list govuk-list--bullet govuk-list--spaced"> <li>oversees the operation of the Civil Service and government agencies</li> <li>appoints members of the government</li> <li>is the principal government figure in the House of Commons</li> </ul> <p class="govuk-body">The Prime Minister is <a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/people/elizabeth-truss">The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP</a>.</p> <p class="govuk-body govuk-!-margin-bottom-8"> <a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/prime-ministers-office-10-downing-street">Read more about the Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street</a> </p> <img alt="" width="465" height="310" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20220928004055im_/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/person/image/351/s465_PM_gov.uk_profile_.jpg"> </section> <section class="govuk-!-margin-bottom-9"> <h3 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-m govuk-!-margin-bottom-4">The Cabinet</h3> <p class="govuk-body">The Cabinet is made up of the senior members of government. Every week during Parliament, members of the Cabinet (Secretaries of State from all departments and some other ministers) meet to discuss the most important issues for the government.</p> <p class="govuk-body govuk-!-margin-bottom-8"><a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers">See who is in the Cabinet</a></p> <img alt="" width="465" height="310" src="/web/20220928004055im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/whitehall/how-gov-works/Cabinet_01-342922b8edae7c682ae8a2751fc97d05d35dad19f8c9164203be433877fb0b04.jpg"> </section> </section> </div> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-width-container"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <section class="govuk-!-margin-bottom-9"> <h3 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-m govuk-!-margin-bottom-4">Ministers</h3> <p class="govuk-body">Ministers are chosen by the Prime Minister from the members of the House of Commons and House of Lords. They are responsible for the actions, successes and failures of their departments.</p> <p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers">See full list of ministers</a></p> </section> </div> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-width-container"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-full"> <section class="govuk-!-margin-bottom-9"> <h2 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-l govuk-!-margin-bottom-4" id="how-government-is-run">How government is run</h2> <h3 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-m govuk-!-margin-bottom-4">Government departments and agencies</h3> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <p class="govuk-body">Departments and their agencies are responsible for putting government policy into practice.</p> <h3 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-m govuk-!-margin-bottom-4">Government departments</h3> <p class="govuk-body">Some departments, like the <a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence">Ministry of Defence</a>, cover the whole UK. Others don’t – the <a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions">Department for Work and Pensions</a> doesn't cover Northern Ireland. This is because some aspects of government are devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.</p> <p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations#non_ministerial_departments">Non-ministerial departments</a> are headed by senior civil servants and not ministers. They usually have a regulatory or inspection function like the Charity Commission.</p> <h3 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-m govuk-!-margin-bottom-4">Executive agencies</h3> <p class="govuk-body">These are part of government departments and usually provide government services rather than decide policy - which is done by the department that oversees the agency.</p> <p class="govuk-body">An example is the <a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driver-and-vehicle-licensing-agency">Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency</a> (overseen by the <a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport">Department for Transport</a>).</p> <h3 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-m govuk-!-margin-bottom-4">Other public bodies</h3> <p class="govuk-body">These have varying degrees of independence but are directly accountable to ministers. There are 4 types of non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs).</p> <p class="govuk-body">Executive NDPBs do work for the government in specific areas - for example, the Environment Agency.</p> <p class="govuk-body">Advisory NDPBs provide independent, expert advice to ministers - for example, the Committee on Standards in Public Life.</p> <p class="govuk-body">Tribunal NDPBs are part of the justice system and have jurisdiction over a specific area of law - for example, the Competition Appeal Tribunal.</p> <p class="govuk-body">Independent monitoring boards are responsible for the running of prisons and treatment of prisoners - for example, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons.</p> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-full"> <div class="depts"> <div class="depts__item govuk-!-display-inline-block"> <div class="gem-c-big-number govuk-!-margin-bottom-3"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-big-number__link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations#departments"> <span class="gem-c-big-number__value"> 23 </span> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden"> </span> <span class="gem-c-big-number__label"> Ministerial departments </span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="depts__item govuk-!-display-inline-block"> <div class="gem-c-big-number govuk-!-margin-bottom-3"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-big-number__link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations#non_ministerial_departments"> <span class="gem-c-big-number__value"> 20 </span> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden"> </span> <span class="gem-c-big-number__label"> Non-ministerial departments </span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="depts__item govuk-!-display-inline-block"> <div class="gem-c-big-number govuk-!-margin-bottom-3"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-big-number__link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations#agencies_and_other_public_bodies"> <span class="gem-c-big-number__value"> 300<span class="gem-c-big-number__suffix">+</span> </span> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden"> </span> <span class="gem-c-big-number__label"> Agencies other public bodies </span> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-width-container"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <section class="govuk-!-margin-bottom-9"> <h2 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-l govuk-!-margin-bottom-4" id="civil-service">Civil Service</h2> <p class="govuk-body">The Civil Service does the practical and administrative work of government. It is co-ordinated and managed by the Prime Minister, in their role as Minister for the Civil Service.</p> <p class="govuk-body">Around half of all civil servants provide services direct to the public, including:</p> <ul class="gem-c-list govuk-list govuk-list--bullet govuk-list--spaced"> <li>paying benefits and pensions</li> <li>running employment services</li> <li>staffing prisons</li> <li>issuing driving licences</li> </ul> <p class="govuk-body">The <a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-service">Civil Service</a> is on GOV.UK.</p> <h3 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-m govuk-!-margin-bottom-4">Work for us</h3> <p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220928004055/https://civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/">Find and apply</a> for vacancies in departments, executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies.</p> <h3 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-m govuk-!-margin-bottom-4">Work with us</h3> <p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder/">Search Contracts Finder</a> for any government contract over £10,000 and get details of all previous tenders.</p> </section> <section class="govuk-!-margin-bottom-9"> <h2 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-l govuk-!-margin-bottom-4" id="get-involved">Get involved</h2> <p class="govuk-body">Read about ways to <a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/get-involved/">get involved</a>.</p> <h3 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-m govuk-!-margin-bottom-4">Engage with government</h3> <p class="govuk-body">Interact with government through <a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/get-involved#engage-with-government">consultations and petitions</a> to inform and influence the decisions it makes.</p> <h3 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-m govuk-!-margin-bottom-4">Take part</h3> <p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/get-involved#take-part">Offer your skills and energy</a> to a project in your neighbourhood, around the UK or overseas.</p> </section> <section class="govuk-!-margin-bottom-9"> <h2 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-l govuk-!-margin-bottom-4" id="legislation">Legislation</h2> <p class="govuk-body">Laws go through several stages before they are passed by Parliament. The House of Commons and the House of Lords work together to make them.</p> <p class="govuk-body">They can include:</p> <h3 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-m govuk-!-margin-bottom-4">Draft legislation</h3> <p class="govuk-body">White papers outline proposals for new laws. Green papers ask for public comments before the white paper is published.</p> <p class="govuk-body">Bills are proposals for new laws or changes to existing ones. Once agreed by Parliament, they have to be approved by the King before becoming law.</p> <h3 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-m govuk-!-margin-bottom-4">Acts of Parliament</h3> <p class="govuk-body">These are bills which have been approved by the Commons, the Lords, and the King. The relevant government department is responsible for putting the act into practice.</p> <p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" rel="external" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220928004055/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/">Visit www.legislation.gov.uk</a></p> </section> <section class="govuk-!-margin-bottom-9"> <h2 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-l govuk-!-margin-bottom-4" id="access-to-information">Access to information</h2> <h3 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-m govuk-!-margin-bottom-4">Freedom of information</h3> <p class="govuk-body">The Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to ask any public sector organisation for all the recorded information it has on any subject. Anyone can make a request for information – known as a Freedom of Information (or FOI) request. There are no restrictions on your age, nationality or where you live.</p> <p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request">How to make a freedom of information request</a></p> <p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?publication_filter_option=foi-releases">See FOI releases on GOV.UK</a></p> <h3 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-m govuk-!-margin-bottom-4">Statistics</h3> <p class="govuk-body">Government produces Official Statistics about most areas of public life. Statistics are used by people inside and outside government to make informed decisions and to measure the success of government policies and services. <a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/how-national-and-official-statistics-are-assured">Find out about the legislation</a> that governs the publication of UK national and Official Statistics.</p> <p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics">See statistics publications on GOV.UK</a></p> <h3 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-m govuk-!-margin-bottom-4">Transparency</h3> <p class="govuk-body">The government publishes information about how government works to allow you to make politicians, public services and public organisations more accountable. We are committed to publishing information about:</p> <ul class="gem-c-list govuk-list govuk-list--bullet govuk-list--spaced"> <li>how much public money has been spent on what</li> <li>the job titles of senior civil servants and how much they are paid</li> <li>how the government is doing against its objectives</li> </ul> <p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?publication_filter_option=transparency-data">See transparency releases on GOV.UK</a></p> <h3 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-m govuk-!-margin-bottom-4">Data</h3> <p class="govuk-body">Putting data in people’s hands can help them have more of a say in the reform of public services. On <a class="govuk-link" rel="external" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220928004055/https://data.gov.uk/">data.gov.uk</a> you can easily find, review and use information about our country and communities - for example, to develop web applications.</p> </section> <section class="govuk-!-margin-bottom-9"> <h2 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-l govuk-!-margin-bottom-4" id="devolved-government">Devolved government</h2> <p class="govuk-body">In <a class="govuk-link" rel="external" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.scot/">Scotland</a>, <a class="govuk-link" rel="external" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.wales/">Wales</a> and <a class="govuk-link" rel="external" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220928004055/https://www.northernireland.gov.uk/">Northern Ireland</a>, devolved administrations are responsible for many domestic policy issues, and their Parliaments/Assemblies have law-making powers for those areas.</p> <p class="govuk-body">Areas the Scottish Government, Welsh Government, and the Northern Ireland Executive are responsible for, include:</p> <ul class="gem-c-list govuk-list govuk-list--bullet govuk-list--spaced"> <li>health</li> <li>education</li> <li>culture</li> <li>the environment</li> <li>transport</li> </ul> </section> <section class="govuk-!-margin-bottom-9"> <h2 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-l govuk-!-margin-bottom-4" id="local-government">Local government</h2> <p class="govuk-body">Councils make and carry out decisions on local services. Many parts of England have 2 tiers of local government: county councils and district, borough or city councils.</p> <p class="govuk-body">In some parts of the country, there’s just one tier of local government providing all the functions, known as a ‘unitary authority’. This can be a city, borough or county council – or it may just be called ‘council’. As well as these, many areas also have parish or town councils.</p> <p class="govuk-body"><a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/understand-how-your-council-works/types-of-council/">Understand how your council works</a></p> </section> <section class="govuk-!-margin-bottom-9"> <h2 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-l govuk-!-margin-bottom-4" id="parliament">Parliament</h2> <p class="govuk-body">Parliament is separate from government. Made up of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, its role is to:</p> <ul class="gem-c-list govuk-list govuk-list--bullet govuk-list--spaced"> <li>look at what the government is doing</li> <li>debate issues and pass new laws</li> <li>set taxes</li> </ul> <p class="govuk-body"> <a class="govuk-link" rel="external" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220928004055/https://www.parliament.uk/">Find out about how Parliament works</a> </p> <p class="govuk-body">Read The Official Report at <a class="govuk-link" rel="external" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220928004055/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/">Hansard</a></p> </section> <section> <h2 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-l govuk-!-margin-bottom-4" id="history-uk-government">History of government</h2> <p class="govuk-body">Britain has one of the oldest governments in the world. Find out more about how it has worked and who has shaped it in the <a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/history/">history</a> section.</p> <p class="govuk-body">Read about past Prime Ministers, Chancellors and Foreign Secretaries in <a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/history#notable-people">notable people</a>. Learn more about historic <a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/history#government-buildings">government buildings</a> on Whitehall and around the UK.</p> <p class="govuk-body govuk-!-margin-bottom-8">You can also find links to <a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/history#historical-research">historical research</a>, documents and records.</p> <img alt="" width="465" height="310" src="/web/20220928004055im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/whitehall/how-gov-works/Churchill_01-c0149fbb516d0a355ee3fa8bb32e9e2b1bf40c80bb9031ddb9b67be656f18dc0.jpg"> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-width-container"> <div class="gem-c-feedback govuk-!-display-none-print" data-module="feedback ga4-event-tracker"> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt gem-c-feedback__js-show js-prompt" tabindex="-1"> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-questions js-prompt-questions" hidden> <h2 class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-question">Is this page useful?</h2> <ul class="gem-c-feedback__option-list"> <li class="gem-c-feedback__option-list-item govuk-visually-hidden" style="display: none" hidden> <a class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-link" data-track-category="yesNoFeedbackForm" data-track-action="ffMaybeClick" role="button" style="display: none" hidden="hidden" aria-hidden="true" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/contact/govuk"> Maybe </a> </li> <li class="gem-c-feedback__option-list-item"> <button class="govuk-button gem-c-feedback__prompt-link js-page-is-useful" data-track-category="yesNoFeedbackForm" data-track-action="ffYesClick" data-ga4="{&quot;event_name&quot;:&quot;form_submit&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;feedback&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Yes&quot;, &quot;section&quot;: &quot;Is this page useful?&quot;}"> Yes <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">this page is useful</span> </button> </li> <li class="gem-c-feedback__option-list-item"> <button class="govuk-button gem-c-feedback__prompt-link js-toggle-form js-page-is-not-useful" data-track-category="yesNoFeedbackForm" data-track-action="ffNoClick" aria-controls="page-is-not-useful" aria-expanded="false" data-ga4="{&quot;event_name&quot;:&quot;form_submit&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;feedback&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;No&quot;, &quot;section&quot;: &quot;Is this page useful?&quot;}"> No <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">this page is not useful</span> </button> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-questions gem-c-feedback__prompt-success js-prompt-success" role="alert" hidden> Thank you for your feedback </div> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-questions gem-c-feedback__prompt-questions--something-is-wrong js-prompt-questions" hidden> <button class="govuk-button gem-c-feedback__prompt-link js-toggle-form js-something-is-wrong" data-track-category="Onsite Feedback" data-track-action="GOV-UK Open Form" aria-controls="something-is-wrong" aria-expanded="false"> Report a problem with this page </button> </div> </div> <form action="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/contact/govuk/problem_reports" id="something-is-wrong" class="gem-c-feedback__form js-feedback-form" data-track-category="Onsite Feedback" data-track-action="GOV.UK Send Form" method="post" hidden> <button class="govuk-button govuk-button--secondary gem-c-feedback__close gem-c-feedback__js-show js-close-form" data-track-category="Onsite Feedback" data-track-action="GOV.UK Close Form" aria-controls="something-is-wrong" aria-expanded="true"> Close </button> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <div class="gem-c-feedback__error-summary gem-c-feedback__js-show js-errors" tabindex="-1" hidden></div> <input type="hidden" name="url" value="https://www.gov.uk/government/how-government-works"> <h3 class="gem-c-feedback__form-heading">Help us improve GOV.UK</h3> <p id="feedback_explanation" class="gem-c-feedback__form-paragraph">Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.</p> <div class="govuk-visually-hidden" aria-hidden="true"> <label for="giraffe">This field is for robots only. Please leave blank</label> <input id="giraffe" name="giraffe" type="text" pattern=".{0}" tabindex="-1" autocomplete="off"> </div> <div class="gem-c-textarea govuk-form-group govuk-!-margin-bottom-6"> <label for="textarea-5aa8f28e" class="gem-c-label govuk-label">What were you doing?</label> <textarea name="what_doing" class="govuk-textarea" id="textarea-5aa8f28e" rows="3" spellcheck="true" aria-describedby="feedback_explanation"> </textarea> </div> <div class="gem-c-textarea govuk-form-group govuk-!-margin-bottom-6"> <label for="textarea-1db21155" class="gem-c-label govuk-label">What went wrong?</label> <textarea name="what_wrong" class="govuk-textarea" id="textarea-1db21155" rows="3" spellcheck="true"> </textarea> </div> <button class="gem-c-button govuk-button" type="submit">Send</button> </div> </div> </form> <script> document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function () { var input = document.querySelector("#giraffe"), form = document.querySelector("#something-is-wrong") form.addEventListener("submit", spamCapture); function spamCapture(e) { if (input.value.length !== 0) return; e.preventDefault(); } }); </script> <form action="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/contact/govuk/email-survey-signup" id="page-is-not-useful" class="gem-c-feedback__form gem-c-feedback__form--email gem-c-feedback__js-show js-feedback-form" data-track-category="yesNoFeedbackForm" data-track-action="Send Form" method="post"> <button class="govuk-button govuk-button--secondary gem-c-feedback__close js-close-form" data-track-category="yesNoFeedbackForm" data-track-action="ffFormClose" aria-controls="page-is-not-useful" aria-expanded="true" hidden> Close </button> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds" id="survey-wrapper"> <div class="gem-c-feedback__error-summary js-errors" tabindex="-1" hidden></div> <input name="email_survey_signup[survey_id]" type="hidden" value="footer_satisfaction_survey"> <input name="email_survey_signup[survey_source]" type="hidden" value="/government/how-government-works"> <h3 class="gem-c-feedback__form-heading">Help us improve GOV.UK</h3> <p id="survey_explanation" class="gem-c-feedback__form-paragraph">To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone.</p> <div class="govuk-form-group"> <label for="input-3892f03d" class="gem-c-label govuk-label">Email address</label> <input aria-describedby="survey_explanation" autocomplete="email" class="gem-c-input govuk-input" id="input-3892f03d" name="email_survey_signup[email_address]" spellcheck="false" type="email"> </div> <button class="gem-c-button govuk-button" type="submit">Send me the survey</button> </div> </div> </form> </div> </div> <footer class="gem-c-layout-footer govuk-footer gem-c-layout-footer--border" role="contentinfo"> <div class="govuk-width-container"> <div class="govuk-footer__navigation" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-links-only> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds govuk-!-display-none-print"> <h2 class="govuk-footer__heading govuk-heading-m">Topics</h2> <ul class="govuk-footer__list govuk-footer__list--columns-2"> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/benefits" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Benefits&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits">Benefits</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/births-deaths-marriages" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Births, death, marriages and care&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/births-deaths-marriages">Births, death, marriages and care</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/business" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Business and self-employed&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/business">Business and self-employed</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/childcare-parenting" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Childcare and parenting&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/childcare-parenting">Childcare and parenting</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/citizenship" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Citizenship and living in the UK&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship">Citizenship and living in the UK</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/cost-of-living" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Cost of living support&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/cost-of-living">Cost of living support</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/justice" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Crime, justice and the law&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/justice">Crime, justice and the law</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/disabilities" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Disabled people&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/disabilities">Disabled people</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/driving" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Driving and transport&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving">Driving and transport</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/education" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Education and learning&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/education">Education and learning</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/employing-people" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Employing people&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/employing-people">Employing people</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/environment-countryside" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Environment and countryside&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/environment-countryside">Environment and countryside</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/housing-local-services" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Housing and local services&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/housing-local-services">Housing and local services</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/tax" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Money and tax&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/tax">Money and tax</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/abroad" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Passports, travel and living abroad&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/abroad">Passports, travel and living abroad</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/visas-immigration" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Visas and immigration&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration">Visas and immigration</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/working" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Working, jobs and pensions&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/browse/working">Working, jobs and pensions</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third govuk-!-display-none-print"> <h2 class="govuk-footer__heading govuk-heading-m">Government activity</h2> <ul class="govuk-footer__list govuk-footer__list--columns-1"> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/government/organisations" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Departments&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations">Departments</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/search/news-and-communications" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;News&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/search/news-and-communications">News</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/search/guidance-and-regulation" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Guidance and regulation&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/search/guidance-and-regulation">Guidance and regulation</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/search/research-and-statistics" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Research and statistics&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics">Research and statistics</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/search/policy-papers-and-consultations" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Policy papers and consultations&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/search/policy-papers-and-consultations">Policy papers and consultations</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Transparency&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases">Transparency</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/government/how-government-works" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;How government works&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/how-government-works">How government works</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/government/get-involved" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Get involved&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/get-involved">Get involved</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <hr class="govuk-footer__section-break"> <div class="govuk-footer__meta"> <div class="govuk-footer__meta-item govuk-footer__meta-item--grow"> <h2 class="govuk-visually-hidden">Support links</h2> <ul class="govuk-footer__inline-list govuk-!-display-none-print" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-links-only> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/help" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Help&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/help">Help</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/help/privacy-notice" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Privacy&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/help/privacy-notice">Privacy</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/help/cookies" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Cookies&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/help/cookies">Cookies</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/help/accessibility-statement" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Accessibility statement&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/help/accessibility-statement">Accessibility statement</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/contact" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Contact&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/contact">Contact</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/help/terms-conditions" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Terms and conditions&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/help/terms-conditions">Terms and conditions</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" lang="cy" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/cymraeg" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Rhestr o Wasanaethau Cymraeg&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/cymraeg">Rhestr o Wasanaethau Cymraeg</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/government/organisations/government-digital-service" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;:&quot;Government Digital Service&quot;}" href="/web/20220928004055/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-digital-service">Government Digital Service</a> </li> </ul> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" class="govuk-footer__licence-logo" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 483.2 195.7" height="17" width="41"> <path fill="currentColor" d="M421.5 142.8V.1l-50.7 32.3v161.1h112.4v-50.7zm-122.3-9.6A47.12 47.12 0 0 1 221 97.8c0-26 21.1-47.1 47.1-47.1 16.7 0 31.4 8.7 39.7 21.8l42.7-27.2A97.63 97.63 0 0 0 268.1 0c-36.5 0-68.3 20.1-85.1 49.7A98 98 0 0 0 97.8 0C43.9 0 0 43.9 0 97.8s43.9 97.8 97.8 97.8c36.5 0 68.3-20.1 85.1-49.7a97.76 97.76 0 0 0 149.6 25.4l19.4 22.2h3v-87.8h-80l24.3 27.5zM97.8 145c-26 0-47.1-21.1-47.1-47.1s21.1-47.1 47.1-47.1 47.2 21 47.2 47S123.8 145 97.8 145"></path> </svg> <span class="govuk-footer__licence-description" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-action="copyrightLink" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-label="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;: &quot;Open Government Licence v3.0&quot;}" data-track-links-only> All content is available under the <a class="govuk-footer__link" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220928004055/https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/" rel="license">Open Government Licence v3.0</a>, except where otherwise stated </span> </div> <div class="govuk-footer__meta-item" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-action="copyrightLink" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-label="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/re-using-public-sector-information/uk-government-licensing-framework/crown-copyright/" data-track-options="{&quot;dimension29&quot;: &quot;© Crown copyright&quot;}" data-track-links-only> <a class="govuk-footer__link govuk-footer__copyright-logo" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220928004055/https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/re-using-public-sector-information/uk-government-licensing-framework/crown-copyright/">© Crown copyright</a> </div> </div> </div> </footer> <script src="/web/20220928004055js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/application-087272cd04e26ba8d2c7c0ccef5db8dcc67495fdae7ef356f838d916abeda4c6.js"></script> <script src="/web/20220928004055js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/whitehall/frontend-88ae4bd78c78d2724fbd36bfef1de34bede05c5421d8c58c5a2f7b9fe938b86b.js"></script><script> //<![CDATA[ //]]> </script> </body> </html> <!-- FILE ARCHIVED ON 00:40:55 Sep 28, 2022 AND RETRIEVED FROM THE INTERNET ARCHIVE ON 19:36:18 Dec 12, 2024. JAVASCRIPT APPENDED BY WAYBACK MACHINE, COPYRIGHT INTERNET ARCHIVE. ALL OTHER CONTENT MAY ALSO BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT (17 U.S.C. SECTION 108(a)(3)). --> <!-- playback timings (ms): captures_list: 0.644 exclusion.robots: 0.027 exclusion.robots.policy: 0.016 esindex: 0.009 cdx.remote: 28.366 LoadShardBlock: 261.042 (6) PetaboxLoader3.datanode: 236.128 (7) PetaboxLoader3.resolve: 174.389 (2) load_resource: 228.859 -->

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10