United Kingdom

Priority area of work within BIC:

Environment;

Energy (jointly with the Scottish Government)

Capital City: London

 

Government:

The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy. It does not have a ‘written constitution’ set out in any one document. Instead, the relationship between the State and the people relies on statute law, common law and conventions.  Many of these laws, conventions, and rules on the operation of government and described in the Cabinet Manual.  The Head of State is Her Majesty the Queen, Elizabeth II. The UK Parliament is at Westminster and consists of the House of Commons and House of Lords. The Government headed by the Prime Minister is accountable to Parliament. The devolved institutions in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast are responsible for many aspects of domestic policy in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.  However, in addition to responsibility for domestic policy matters in England, the Government retains a wide range of responsibilities across all parts of the United Kingdom, including defence & national security, immigration, foreign affairs, monetary policy, constitutional policy, and broadcasting.