The People's Chamber · Departments
Government Departments
What every department controls and where every party stands on the issues that matter to you. Tap any department for live ministers, agencies, and topic-by-topic positions.
Departments
24
Control Zones
453
Live Data
Daily
HM Treasury
The Ultimate Power Centre. Controls the nation's finances — every other department answers to the Treasury for money.
Rachel Reeves
Income TaxNational InsuranceVAT+70Home Office
Responsible for immigration, policing, counter-terrorism and keeping the public safe. The most politically charged department in government right now.
Shabana MahmoodSmall BoatsImmigrationPolicing+17Department of Health and Social Care
Oversees the NHS and social care system. Controls the biggest domestic budget in government and decisions that affect every person in the country.
Wes StreetingNHS FundingNHS Waiting ListsSocial Care+17Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Controls Britain's energy supply, bills, and the path to net zero. Every household energy bill and climate target runs through this department.
Ed MilibandEnergy BillsNet ZeroRenewable Energy+17Department for Education
Sets curriculum, funds schools and universities, and shapes the life chances of every child in England.
Bridget PhillipsonSchools FundingCurriculumOfsted+17Department for Work and Pensions
Controls the benefits system, state pension and employment support. Decisions here directly affect millions of the most vulnerable people in Britain.
Universal CreditState PensionDisability Benefits+17Department for Transport
Controls how Britain moves — roads, rail, aviation and the shift to electric transport. HS2 and rail nationalisation are the defining issues.
Heidi AlexanderRailRoads & MotorwaysHS2+17Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Controls farming, food, the natural environment and animal welfare. Farmer protests and sewage in rivers have made this one of the most contested departments.
Farming SubsidiesFood StandardsWater Quality+17Department for Business and Trade
Drives UK trade, business regulation and investment. Trade deals post-Brexit and US tariffs make this department central to Britain's economic future.
Peter KyleTrade DealsExport SupportBusiness Regulation+17Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Controls AI policy, R&D spending and digital infrastructure. The department shaping Britain's economic future in the technology age.
Liz KendallAI StrategyR&D FundingBroadband & Digital Infrastructure+17Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Controls planning, housebuilding and local government. The housing crisis — with 300,000 homes needed per year — makes this one of the most urgent departments in government.
Housebuilding TargetsPlanning ReformAffordable Housing+17Ministry of Justice
Controls prisons, courts, probation and legal aid. Prison overcrowding and the courts backlog are the defining crises facing the justice system.
David LammyPrisonsProbationCourts & Tribunals+17Ministry of Defence
Controls Britain's armed forces, nuclear deterrent and defence spending. The war in Ukraine and NATO's 2% GDP target dominate the agenda.
John HealeyDefence BudgetArmed ForcesNuclear Deterrent+17Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Controls broadcasting, arts, sport and gambling. The BBC licence fee and football regulation are the most contested issues.
Lisa NandyBBC & BroadcastingPress RegulationArts Funding+17Cabinet Office
The engine room of government. Controls the civil service, elections, national security coordination and how government itself works.
Sir Keir Starmer KCB KCCivil Service ReformGovernment EfficiencyConstitution & Democracy+17Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Manages Britain's relationships with every country in the world. Brexit, Ukraine, Gaza and relations with the US define the current agenda.
UK-EU RelationsUS RelationsChina Policy+17Attorney General's Office
The government's chief legal adviser. Oversees the Crown Prosecution Service and Serious Fraud Office.
Lord Hermer KCLegal Advice to GovernmentCrown Prosecution ServiceSerious Fraud Office+7Scotland Office
Represents Scotland's interests in Westminster and Westminster's interests in Scotland. Independence and devolution are the defining questions.
Douglas AlexanderScottish DevolutionScotland ActBarnett Formula+7Wales Office
Represents Wales's interests in Westminster and manages the relationship between the UK and Welsh governments.
Jo StevensWelsh DevolutionWales ActBarnett Formula Wales+7Northern Ireland Office
Manages the relationship between Westminster and Stormont. The Windsor Framework, legacy issues and the fragility of the Good Friday Agreement define this role.
Hilary BennStormontWindsor FrameworkGood Friday Agreement+7Office of the Leader of the House of Commons
Manages the government's business in the House of Commons. Controls what gets debated, when, and in what order.
Parliamentary BusinessLegislative ProgrammeCommons Procedure+7Office of the Leader of the House of Lords
Manages government business in the House of Lords. Lords reform and the role of unelected peers in blocking legislation are the defining issues.
Baroness Smith of BasildonLords BusinessLords ReformHereditary Peers+7Office of the Advocate General for Scotland
The UK government's legal adviser on Scots law. Handles legal questions where Scottish and UK law intersect.
Baroness Smith of Cluny KCScots Law AdviceScottish Legal IssuesUK Legislation in Scotland+7UK Export Finance
The UK's export credit agency. Helps British businesses win contracts overseas by providing government-backed finance and insurance.
Peter KyleExport GuaranteesExport InsuranceTrade Finance+7