Multimedia Mania/abacus-multimedia-mania.iso/dp/0051/00511.txt

Text File | 1993-07-27 | 17KB | 388 lines

$Unique_ID{bob00511}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{United Kingdom
Government Departments}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC}
$Affiliation{Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC}
$Subject{government
departments
office
department
public
bodies
services
gb
information
policy}
$Date{1990}
$Log{}
Title:       United Kingdom
Book:        Britain's System of Government
Author:      Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC
Affiliation: Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC
Date:        1990

Government Departments

     Government departments are the main instruments for giving effect to
government policy when Parliament has passed the necessary legislation, and
for advising ministers. They may, and often do, work with and through local
authorities, statutory boards, and government-sponsored organisations
operating under various degrees of government control.

     A change of government does not necessarily affect the number or general
functions of government departments, although a radical change in policy may
be accompanied by some organisational change.

     The work of some departments (for instance, the Ministry of Defence)
covers Britain as a whole. Other departments (such as the Department of
Employment) cover England, Wales and Scotland, but not Northern Ireland.
Others, such as the Department of the Environment, are mainly concerned with
affairs in England. Some departments, such as the Department of Trade and
Industry, maintain a regional organisation, and some which have direct contact
with the public throughout the country (for example, the Department of
Employment) also have local offices.

     A department is usually headed by a minister. Certain departments in
which questions of policy do not normally arise are headed by a permanent
official, and a minister with other duties is responsible for them to
Parliament. For instance, ministers in the Treasury are responsible for the
Central Office of Information, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, HM Customs
and Excise, the Inland Revenues and a number of other departments, including
the Central Statistical Office, the Royal Mint, and the National Investment
and Loans Office. Departments generally receive their funds directly out of
money provided by Parliament and are staffed by members of the Civil Service.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

     A number of bodies with a role in the process of government are neither
government departments nor part of a department (in April 1989 the figure was
1,555). Known as non-departmental public bodies, but often popularly described
as `quangos ('quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations', although there
is no precise definition of the term), they are of three kinds: executive
bodies, advisory bodies and tribunals.

Executive Bodies

     Executive bodies normally employ staff and have their own budget. They
consist of public bodies which carry out, among other duties, executive,
administrative, regulatory or commercial functions. They operate typically
within broad policy guidelines set by departmental ministers but are in
varying degrees independent of government in carrying out their day-to-day
responsibilities. Examples include the Arts Council of Great Britain, the
British Council, the Commonwealth Development Corporation and the Commission
for Racial Equality.

Tribunals

     Tribunals are a specialised group of judicial bodies which are akin to
courts of law. They are normally set up under statutory powers which also
govern their constitution, functions and procedure. Tribunals often consist of
laypeople, but they are generally chaired by someone who is legally qualified.
They tend to be less expensive, and less formal, than courts of law.
Independently of the executive, tribunals decide the rights and obligations of
private citizens towards one another or towards a government department or
other public authority. Important examples are industrial tribunals, rent
tribunals and social security appeal tribunals. Tribunals usually consist of
an uneven number of people so that a majority decision can be reached. Members
are normally appointed by the minister concerned with the subject. Tribunals
and advisory bodies do not normally employ staff or spend money themselves,
but their expenses are paid by the government departments concerned.

Advisory Bodies

     Many government departments are assisted by advisory councils or
committees which undertake research and collect information, mainly to give
ministers access to informed opinion before they come to a decision involving
a legislative or executive act. In some cases a minister must consult a
standing committee, but usually advisory bodies are appointed at the
discretion of the minister.

     The membership of the advisory councils and committees varies according
to the nature of the work involved, and will usually include representatives
of varying interests and professions.

     In addition to the standing advisory bodies, there are committees set
up by the Government to examine and make recommendations on specific matters.
For certain important inquiries Royal Commissions, whose members are chosen
for their wide experience and diverse knowledge, may be appointed. Royal
Commissions examine written and oral evidence from government departments,
interested organisations and individuals, and submit recommendations. The
Government may accept the recommendations in whole or in part, or may decide
to take no further action or to delay action. Inquiries may also be undertaken
by departmental committees.

Government Information Services

     Each of the main government departments has its own information division
or directorate, public relations branch or news department. These are normally
staffed by professional information officers responsible for communicating
their department's policies and activities to the news media and the public
(sometimes using publicity services provided by the Central Office of
Information-see p 24) and for advising their departments on the public's
reaction to them. As press adviser to the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister's
Press Secretary and other staff in the Prime Minister's Press Office have
direct and constant contact with the parliamentary press through regular
meetings with the Lobby correspondents. The Lobby correspondents are a group
of political correspondents who have the special privilege of access to the
Lobby of the House of Commons where they can talk privately to government
ministers and other members of the House. The Prime Minister's Press Office
forms the accepted channel through which information about parliamentary
business is conveyed to the media.

Distribution of Functions

     An outline of the principal functions of the main government departments
is given below. Departments are arranged in alphabetical order, except for the
Scottish and Northern Ireland departments, which are grouped at the end of the
section, and the Cabinet Office, described on p 20. Further information on the
work of some departments is given in later chapters under the relevant subject
headings.

Department

Main areas of responsibility

     The work of many of the departments listed on pp 23-6 covers Britain as a
whole. Where this is not the case, the following abbreviations are used: (GB)
for functions covering England, Wales and Scotland; (E, W & NI) for those
covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland; (E & W) for those covering
England and Wales; and (E) for those concerned with England only.

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

     Policies of agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and food;
responsibilities for related environmental and rural issues (E); food
policies.

Office of Arts and Libraries

     General promotion of arts (GB); library and information services (E with
advice to W and NI); national museums (E); public libraries and local museums
(E); British Library; national heritage.

Crown Prosecution Service

     An independent department specialising in the prosecution of criminal
offences; headed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who is supervised by
the Attorney General (E & W).

HM Customs and Excise

     Collecting and accounting for revenues of Customs and Excise, including
value added tax; agency functions including controlling certain imports and
exports and compiling trade statistics.

Ministry of Defence

     Defence policy and control and administration of the armed services.

Department of Education and Science

     Policies for education (E); the Government's relations with universities
(GB); fostering civil science in Britain and internationally.

The Office of Electricity Regulation (OFFER)

     Promotion of competition in the generation and supply of electricity;
ensuring that all reasonable demands for electricity are satisfied; protection
of consumer interests (GB).

Department of Employment

     The Employment Service, employment policy and legislation; training
policy and legislation; health and safety at work; industrial relations, wages
councils, equal opportunities; small firms and tourism; statistics on labour
and industrial matters (GB); the Careers Service (E); international
representation on employment matters.

Department of Energy

     Policies for all forms of energy, including its efficient use and the
development of new sources; the Government's relations with the energy
industries.

Department of the Environment

     Policies for planning and regional development, local government, new
towns, housing, construction, inner city matters, environmental protection,
water, the countryside, sport and recreation, conservation, historic buildings
and ancient monuments (E); and Property Services Agency (GB).

ECGD (Export Credits Guarantee Department)

     Provision of insurance for exporters against the risk of not being paid
for goods and services, and access to bank finance for exports; insurance
cover for new investment overseas.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

     Conduct of Britain's overseas relations.

Office of Gas Supply

     Monitoring of British Gas as the sole public gas supplier, ensuring
compliance with its statutory obligations, and granting authorisations to
other suppliers of gas through pipes; development of competition in the
industrial market.

Department of Health

     National Health Service, personal social services provided by local
authorities, and certain aspects of public health, including hygiene (E).

Home Office

     Administration of justice; criminal law; treatment of offenders,
including probation; the prison service; the police; crime prevention; fire
and civil defence services; licensing laws; scrutiny of local authority
by-laws; control of firearms and dangerous drugs; electoral matters (E & W).
Gaming and lotteries (GB). Regulation of broadcasting; passports, immigration
and nationality; race relations and sex discrimination. Responsibilities
relating to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

Central Office of Information

     An executive agency providing publicity material and other information
services on behalf of government departments and a number of publicly funded
organisations.

Board of Inland Revenue

     Administration of direct taxes; collection of National Insurance
contributions. Valuation of land and buildings (GB).

The Law Officers' Departments

     Provision of advice to the Government on English law and representation
of the Crown in appropriate domestic and international cases, both civil and
criminal, by the Law Officers of the Crown for England and Wales-the Attorney
General and the Solicitor General (E & W). The Attorney General, who is also
Attorney General for Northern Ireland, superintends the Treasury Solicitor's
Department, the Crown Prosecution Service (E & W), the Serious Fraud Office
(E, W & NI) and the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland (NI).

The Lord Chancellor's Department

     Administration of the Supreme Court (Court of Appeal, High Court, Crown
Court) and the county courts (E & W), together with certain other courts and
tribunals, and all work relating to judicial and quasi-judicial appointments.
Responsibility for civil and criminal legal aid. Promotion of general reforms
in the civil law. (The Home Office has important responsibilities for the
criminal law.)

Ordnance Survey

     Official surveying and mapping, including geodetic surveys and
associated scientific work, and topographic surveys covering Great Britain and
some overseas countries.

Overseas Development Administration

     Administration of financial aid to, and technical co-operation in,
developing countries.

Parliamentary Counsel

     Drafting of government Bills (except those relating exclusively to
Scotland); advising departments on parliamentary procedure (E, W & NI).

Paymaster General's Office

     Provision of banking services for government departments other than the
Boards of Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise, and the payment of public
service pensions.

Office of Population Censuses and Surveys

     Administration of the Marriage Acts and local registration of births,
marriages and deaths; population estimates and projections; compilation of
health statistics; censuses (E & W). Surveys for other government departments
(GB).

HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor's Department

     Provision of a common legal service for a large number of government
departments. Duties include instructing Parliamentary Counsel on Bills and
drafting subordinate legislation; providing litigation and conveyancing
services; and giving general advice on the interpretation and application of
the law (E & W).

Serious Fraud Office

     Investigating and prosecuting serious or complex fraud under the
supervision of the Attorney General (E, W & NI).

Department of Social Security

     The social security system (GB). Three new executive agencies are to
cover the main aspects of the Department's work: an Information Technology
Services Agency; a Benefits Agency; and a Contributions Unit.

HMSO (Her Majesty's Stationery Office)

     An executive agency providing stationery, printing and related services
to Parliament, government departments and other public bodies; and publishing
and selling government documents.

Central Statistical Office

     Preparing and interpreting key economic statistics needed for government
policies; collecting and publishing business statistics; publishing annual
statistical digests.

Office of Telecommunications (OFTEL)

     Monitoring of British Telecom, Mercury, and other telecommunications
operators; enforcing competition legislation and representing
telecommunications users' interests.

Department of Trade and Industry

     Industrial and commercial policy, promotion of enterprise and
competition, information about new methods and opportunities, investor and
consumer protection. Specific responsibilities include industrial innovation
policy; regional industrial policy and inward investment promotion;
management development and business/education links; international trade
policy; commercial relations and export promotion; competition policy;
company law; insolvency; radio regulation; patents and copyright protection
(GB).

Department of Transport

     Land, sea and air transport; sponsorship of the nationalised London
Transport and British Rail; domestic and international civil aviation;
international transport agreements; shipping and the ports industry; marine
pollution; oversight of road transport (GB); motorways and trunk roads; road
safety; and oversight of local authority transport (E).

HM Treasury

     Broad economic strategy with particular responsibilities for public
finance and expenditure, including control of staffing and pay in the Civil
Service.

Office of Water Services

     Monitoring the activities of companies appointed as water and sewerage
undertakers (E & W).

Welsh Office

     Many aspects of Welsh affairs, including health and personal social
services; education, except for terms and conditions of service, student
awards and the University of Wales; the Welsh language and culture;
agriculture and fisheries; forestry; local government; housing; water and
sewerage; environmental protection; sport; land use, including town and
country planning; countryside and nature conservation; new towns, ancient
monuments and historic buildings; roads; tourism; a range of matters affecting
the careers service and the training activities of the Department of
Employment in Wales; selective financial assistance to industry; the Urban
Programme in Wales; the operation of the European Regional Development Fund in
Wales and other European Community matters; non-departmental public bodies;
civil emergencies; all financial aspects of these matters including Welsh
revenue support grant; and oversight responsibilities for economic affairs and
regional planning in Wales.