Useful Links to Government Departments

• Directgov - widest range of government information and services online (External Link)
• A to Z of Central Government (External Link) - details of all government departments and roles
• A to Z of Local Authorities (External Link) - details of all Local Authorities in the UK
• Boundary Committee for England (External Link) - Reviews local government, local boundaries and local electoral arrangements in England
• Business Gateway (External Link) - Point of contact for all publicly funded services to business in Scotland
• Business Link (External Link) -Advice and information for new and small businesses
• Cabinet Office (External Link) - Ensures delivery of government policies
• Central Office of Information  (External Link) - The government's communications division
• Child Support Agency (External Link) - Ensures that parents meet their financial responsibilities to their children
• Crown Prosecution Service (External Link)  - Conducts criminal prosecutions and improves the criminal justice system
• Customs and Excise, Her Majesty's (External Link) - Collects duties and taxes and controls imports and exports
• Department for Culture, Media and Sport (External Link) - Responsible for culture, media and sport
• Department for Education and Skills (DfES) (External Link) - Responsible for education and work-based learning
• Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (External Link) - Responsible for the environment, food and rural affairs
• Department for International Development (External Link) - Promotes international development and the reduction of poverty
• Department for Transport (DfT) (External Link) - Responsible for transport issues
• Department for Work and Pensions (External Link) - Responsible for jobs and benefits
• Department of Health (External Link) - Responsible for all aspects of health
• Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) (External Link) - Responsible for economic development and UK competitiveness
• Department for Education and Skills (External Link), responsible for education and work-based learning
• Downing Street (External Link) - Information on policy, news and parliamentary speeches from the Prime Minister's office
• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) (External Link) - Registers drivers and vehicles and collects vehicle excise duty
• Driving Standards Agency (External Link) - Responsible for all driving tests in Great Britain
• Department of Trade and Industry (External Link) -  responsible for economic development and UK competitiveness
• Electoral Commission (External Link) - Monitors electoral law and practice
• Environment Agency (External Link) - Works to protect and improve the environment
• Equal Opportunities Commission (External Link) - Works to remove sex discrimination in Britain
• Floodline (External Link) - Flood warning and advice service
• Food Standards Agency (External Link)  - Monitors food safety and standards
• Foreign and Commonwealth Office (External Link)  - Responsible for international relations and foreign affairs
• General Register Office (External Link) - Ensures all births, adoptions, marriages and deaths in England and Wales are registered and maintains a central archive
• Health and Safety Executive (External Link) - Regulates health and safety in the workplace
• Highways Agency (External Link)  - Responsible for motorways and major roads in England
• Home Office (External Link) - Responsible for internal affairs in England and Wales
• House of Commons (External Link) - Information about the House of Commons business, publications, Members and committees
• House of Lords (External Link) - Information about the work of the House of Lords and its Select Committees
• Information Commissioner  (External Link) -  Responsible for data protection and freedom of information
• Inland Revenue (External Link)  - Responsible for the administration of taxes
• Local Government Ombudsman  (External Link)- Investigates complaints about local councils in England
• Ministry of Defence (External Link) - Responsible for defending the UK and overseas territories
• National Audit Office  (External Link)- Investigates public spending
• National Health Service (NHS)  (External Link) - Information about NHS services
• NHS Direct - Health information
• Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) (External Link) - Inspects and advises on schools and colleges
• Office of Fair Trading (External Link) - Protection for UK consumers
• Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (External Link) - Responsibilities includes local government, the regions and social exclusion
• Passport Service UK (External Link) - Online passport applications, travel information and advice
• Pensions Service (External Link) - part of the Department for Work and Pensions, helping people to make decisions about pensions and retirement
• Planning Inspectorate (External Link) - Rules on planning appeals
• Planning Portal (External Link) - Explains how the planning system works, how to make an application online, and how to make an appeal
• Small Business Service (External Link) - Government agency providing information, advice and assistance for small businesses
• Teacher Training Agency (TTA) (External Link)-   Advice and promotion on careers in teaching