National health service

Lengua y Cultura 1
An Introduction to Social Policy

• The United Kingdom is a unitary state in which central government substantially directs most government activity.

The Main Government Departments dealing with social policy in the UK are:

|Central Government |Responsibilities |National Organizations|Local Government |
|Parliament |Primary Legislation |The Scottish Parliament, The Welsh Parliament, The |Local Authorities |
| | |NorthernIreland Assembly |London Boroughs |
|Cabinet Office |Public Service Reform |Social Exclusion Task Force |  |
|The Treasury |Economic policy|Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (taxation, tax |  |
| |Government Finance |credits and social security contributions) | |
|Department of Health |Healthcare |National Health Service |Community Care |
| |Social Services | | |
|Department for Work andPensions |National Insurance |Pensions, Disability and Carers Service (former the |  |
| |Social Assistance |Benefits Agency) | |
||Employment |Child Support Agency | |
| | |JobCentre Plus (formerly Benefits Agency/ Employment ||
| | |Service) | |
|Department for Communities and Local |Local Government | |Planning, housing, environmental health |
|Government |Urban Policy | | |
| |Housing || |
|Ministry of Justice |Law and Order |Probation Service, Immigration Service, Prisons |Police, Fire |
|Department for Children, Schools and Families |Education | ...