Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom#Non-ministerial departments

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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}{{Use British English|date=August 2023}}

{{Politics of the United Kingdom}}

The Government of the United Kingdom is divided into departments that each have responsibility, according to the government, for putting government policy into practice.{{Cite web|title=How government works|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/how-government-works|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116085400/https://www.gov.uk/government/how-government-works |archive-date=16 January 2013 }} There are currently 24 ministerial departments, 20 non-ministerial departments, and 422 agencies and other public bodies, for a total of 465 departments.{{Cite web|title=Departments, agencies and public bodies|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations|url-status=live|access-date=8 January 2023|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108015927/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations |archive-date=8 January 2023}}

Ministerial departments

Ministerial departments are generally the most high-profile government departments and differ from the other two types of government departments in that they include ministers. A list of all ministerial departments is shown below.

class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:Center"

! Ministerial department

! colspan="2" |Minister responsible

! Civil servant responsible

!{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}

Attorney General's Office

| 100px

| The Rt Hon The Lord Hermer PC KC
Attorney General for England and Wales and Advocate General for Northern Ireland

| Douglas Wilson OBE KC (hon)
Director-General

|{{Cite web|title=Attorney General|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/attorney-general|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405111225/https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/attorney-general |archive-date=5 April 2012 }}{{Cite web|title=Attorney General's Office|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/attorney-generals-office|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405134942/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/attorney-generals-office |archive-date=5 April 2012 }}

Cabinet Office

|File:Pat McFadden Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg

| The Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

|

Sir Chris Wormald KCB
Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service

Catherine Little CB
Permanent Secretary

|{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-cabinet-secretary-has-appointed-cat-little-as-the-new-permanent-secretary-to-the-cabinet-office|title=The Cabinet Secretary has appointed Cat Little as the new Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Office|website=GOV.UK}}

Department for Business and Trade

|File:Jonathan Reynolds Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg

| The Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP
Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade

| Gareth Davies CB
Permanent Secretary

|{{Cite web|title=Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110142048/https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy |archive-date=10 November 2016 }}{{Cite web|title=Sarah Munby|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/sarah-munby|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723230507/https://www.gov.uk/government/people/sarah-munby |archive-date=23 July 2019 }}

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

| File:Lisa Nandy Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg

| {{Small|The Rt Hon}} Lisa Nandy MP
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

| Susannah Storey
Permanent Secretary

|{{Cite web|title=Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport |website= GOV.UK|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-digital-culture-media-and-sport|url-status=live|access-date=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405035126/https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-digital-culture-media-and-sport |archive-date=5 April 2019 }}{{Cite web|title=Sarah Healey|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/sarah-healey|url-status=live |access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413114551/https://www.gov.uk/government/people/sarah-healey |archive-date=13 April 2015 }}

Department for Education

|File:Bridget Phillipson Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg

| The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP
Secretary of State for Education

| Susan Acland-Hood
Permanent Secretary

|{{Cite web|title=Secretary of State for Education|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-education|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405111108/https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-education |archive-date=5 April 2012 }}{{Cite web|title=Susan Acland-Hood|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/susan-acland-hood|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222113251/https://www.gov.uk/government/people/susan-acland-hood |archive-date=22 February 2016 }}

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

|File:Ed Miliband 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg

| The Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

| Jeremy Pockington CB
Permanent Secretary

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

|File:Steve Reed Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 4.jpg

| The Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

| Dame Tamara Finkelstein DCB
Permanent Secretary

|{{Cite web|title=Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-environment-food-and-rural-affairs|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405111005/https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-environment-food-and-rural-affairs |archive-date=5 April 2012 }}{{Cite web|title=Tamara Finkelstein|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/tamara-finkelstein|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319200856/https://www.gov.uk/government/people/tamara-finkelstein |archive-date=19 March 2015 }}

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

|File:Peter Kyle Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg

| The Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology

| Sarah Munby
Permanent Secretary

Department for Transport

|File:Heidi alexander portrait 2024.jpg

| The Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP
Secretary of State for Transport

| Dame Bernadette Kelly DCB
Permanent Secretary

|{{Cite web|title=Secretary of State for Transport|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-transport|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405110556/https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-transport |archive-date=5 April 2012 }}{{Cite web|title=Bernadette Kelly CB|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/bernadette-kelly|access-date=2021-06-16|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}

Department for Work and Pensions

|File:Liz Kendall Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg

| {{Small|The Rt Hon}} Liz Kendall MP
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

| Sir Peter Schofield KCB
Permanent Secretary

|{{Cite web|title=Secretary of State for Work and Pensions|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-work-and-pensions|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405110546/https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-work-and-pensions |archive-date=5 April 2012 }}{{Cite web|title=Peter Schofield|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/peter-schofield|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118213403/https://www.gov.uk/government/people/peter-schofield |archive-date=18 January 2013 }}

Department of Health and Social Care

|File:Wes Streeting Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg

| {{Small|The Rt Hon}} Wes Streeting MP
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

| Samantha Jones OBE
Permanent Secretary

|{{Cite web|title=Secretary of State for Health and Social Care|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-health-and-social-care|url-status=live|access-date=26 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405005809/https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-health-and-social-care |archive-date=5 April 2019 }}{{Cite web|title=Sir Chris Wormald KCB|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/chris-wormald|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914195240/https://www.gov.uk/government/people/chris-wormald |archive-date=14 September 2013 }}

Export Credits Guarantee Department
(trading as UK Export Finance)

|File:Jonathan Reynolds Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg

| The Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP
Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade

| Tim Reid
Chief Executive

|{{Cite web|title=Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-international-trade|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723121504/https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-international-trade |archive-date=23 July 2016 }}{{Cite web|title=UK Export Finance|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-export-finance|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520003144/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-export-finance |archive-date=20 May 2013 }}

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

|File:David Lammy, 2024 (cropped).jpg

| The Rt Hon David Lammy MP
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

| Sir Philip Barton KCMG OBE
Permanent Secretary

|{{Cite web|title=Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-foreign-commonwealth-and-development-affairs|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902104735/https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-foreign-commonwealth-and-development-affairs |archive-date=2 September 2020 }}{{Cite web|title=Sir Philip Barton KCMG OBE|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/philip-barton|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224052555/https://www.gov.uk/government/people/philip-barton |archive-date=24 December 2015 }}

HM Treasury

|File:Rachel Reeves Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped 2) (cropped).jpg

| The Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP
Chancellor of the Exchequer and Second Lord of the Treasury

| James Bowler CB
Permanent Secretary

|{{Cite web|title=Chancellor of the Exchequer|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/chancellor-of-the-exchequer|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405110614/https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/chancellor-of-the-exchequer |archive-date=5 April 2012 }}{{Cite web|title=Tom Scholar|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/tom-scholar|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819180337/https://www.gov.uk/government/people/tom-scholar |archive-date=19 August 2013 }}

Home Office

|File:Yvette Cooper Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg

| The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP
Secretary of State for the Home Department

| Dame Antonia Romeo DCB
Permanent Secretary

|{{Cite web|title=Secretary of State for the Home Department|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-the-home-department|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405111149/https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-the-home-department |archive-date=5 April 2012 }}{{Cite web|title=Antonia Romeo appointed as new Home Office Permanent Secretary|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/antonia-romeo-appointed-as-new-home-office-permanent-secretary|url-status=live|access-date=19 April 2025|website=gov.uk}}

Ministry of Defence

|File:John Healey Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg

| The Rt Hon John Healey MP
Secretary of State for Defence

| David Williams CB
Permanent Secretary

|{{Cite web|title=Secretary of State for Defence|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-defence|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405105931/https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-defence |archive-date=5 April 2012 }}{{Cite web|title=David Williams|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/david-williams|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118165838/https://www.gov.uk/government/people/david-williams |archive-date=18 January 2013 }}

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

|File:Angela Rayner Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg

| The Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Deputy Prime Minister

| Sarah Healey CB CVO
Permanent Secretary

|{{Cite web|title=Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-housing-communities-and-local-government|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323110534/https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-housing-communities-and-local-government |archive-date=23 March 2019 }}{{Cite web|title=Jeremy Pocklington|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jeremy-pocklington|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926022137/https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jeremy-pocklington |archive-date=26 September 2015 }}

Ministry of Justice

|File:Shabana Mahmood Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg

| {{Small|The Rt Hon}} Shabana Mahmood KC MP
Secretary of State for Justice and Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain"Responsibilities: Oversight of all portfolios and Ministry of Justice strategy" [https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-justice]{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/alex-chalk|title=The Rt Hon Alex Chalk KC MP|website=GOV.UK}}

| vacant
Permanent Secretary and Clerk of the Crown in Chancery

|

Northern Ireland Office

| File:Hilary Benn Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (crop 1).jpg

| The Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

| Julie Harrison
Permanent Secretary

|{{Cite web|title=Permanent Secretary for the Northern Ireland Office|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/julie-harrison|access-date=18 November 2023}}

Office of the Advocate General for Scotland

| 127x127px

| The Rt Hon The Baroness Smith of Cluny KC"The Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate General for Scotland report to the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Advocate General for Scotland respectively." [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/243426/7109.pdf]{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/hm-advocate-general-for-scotland|title=HM Advocate General for Scotland - GOV.UK|website=gov.uk}}
Advocate General for Scotland

| Neil Taylor
Director and Solicitor to the Advocate General"The Director of OAG is responsible for overseeing all legal services provided by OAG to the UK government, and for overseeing delivery of OAG's objectives as set out in its Business Plan." [https://www.gov.uk/government/people/neil-taylor--2]

|{{Cite web|title=Office of the Advocate General for Scotland|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-advocate-general-for-scotland|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405141539/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-advocate-general-for-scotland |archive-date=5 April 2012 }}

Office of the Leader of the House of CommonsPart of the Cabinet Office.

|File:Lucy Powell Leader of the House (cropped) 2.jpg

|{{Small|The Rt Hon}} Lucy Powell MP{{Cite web |date=July 2023 |title=List of Ministerial Responsibilities Including Executive Agencies and Non-Ministerial Departments |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/968352/List-of-Ministerial-Responsibilities.pdf |website=assets.publishing.service.gov.uk}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/the-office-of-the-leader-of-the-house-of-commons/about|title = About us|website=Office of the Leader of the House of Commons|publisher=gov.uk}}
Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council

| N/A

|{{Cite web|title=Office of the Leader of the House of Commons|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/the-office-of-the-leader-of-the-house-of-commons|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118145325/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/the-office-of-the-leader-of-the-house-of-commons |archive-date=18 January 2013 }}

Office of the Leader of the House of Lords

|File:The Baroness Smith of Basildon 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg

|The Rt Hon The Baroness Smith of Basildon PC{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-leader-of-the-house-of-lords/about|title = About us}}
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal

| N/A

|{{Cite web|title=Office of the Leader of the House of Lords|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-leader-of-the-house-of-lords|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405141413/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-leader-of-the-house-of-lords |archive-date=5 April 2012 }}

Scotland OfficeFile:Ian Murray Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg

| The Rt Hon Ian Murray MP{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-scotland|title=Secretary of State for Scotland - GOV.UK|website=gov.uk}}
Secretary of State for Scotland

| Laurence Rockey
Director

|{{Cite web|title=Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-secretary-of-state-for-scotland|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121233401/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-secretary-of-state-for-scotland |archive-date=21 January 2018 }}

{{Cite web|title=Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/laurence-rockey|access-date=6 July 2024 }}

Wales Office

|File:Jo Stevens Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg

| The Rt Hon Jo Stevens MP
Secretary of State for Wales

| Glynne Jones CBE
Director{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/glynne-jones|title=Glynne Jones CBE|website=GOV.UK}}

|{{Cite web|title=Office of the Secretary of State for Wales|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-secretary-of-state-for-wales|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122083240/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-secretary-of-state-for-wales |archive-date=22 January 2017 }}

Non-ministerial departments

Non-ministerial departments are headed by civil servants and usually have a regulatory or inspection function.{{Cite web|title=How government works|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/how-government-works|url-status=live|access-date=16 June 2021|website=gov.uk|language=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116085400/https://www.gov.uk/government/how-government-works |archive-date=16 January 2013 }} A list of all non-ministerial departments is shown below.

class="wikitable sortable"

!Non-ministerial department

!{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}

Charity Commission for England and Wales

|{{center|}}

Competition and Markets Authority

|{{center|}}

Crown Prosecution Service

|{{center|}}

Food Standards Agency

|{{center|}}

Forestry Commission

|{{center|}}

Government Actuary's Department

|{{center|}}

Government Legal Department

|{{center|}}

HM Land Registry

|{{center|}}

HM Revenue & Customs

|{{center|}}

National Savings and Investments

|{{center|}}

The National Archives

|{{center|}}

National Crime Agency

|{{center|}}

Office of Rail and Road

|{{center|}}

Office of Gas and Electricity Markets

|{{center|}}

Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation

|{{center|}}

Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills

|{{center|}}

Serious Fraud Office

|{{center|}}

Supreme Court of the United Kingdom

|{{center|}}

UK Statistics Authority

|{{center|}}

Water Services Regulation Authority

|{{center|}}

Agencies and other public bodies

Government departments in this third and final category can generally be split into five types:

  • Executive agencies, which usually provide government services rather than decide policy
  • Executive non-departmental public bodies, which do work for the government in specific areas
  • Advisory non-departmental public bodies, which provide independent and expert advice to ministers
  • Tribunal non-departmental public bodies, which are part of the justice system and have jurisdiction over a specific area of the law
  • Independent monitoring boards, which are responsible for the running of prisons and the treatment of prisoners

See also

Notes

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References

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