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Ministerial departments
Led politically by ministers and normally headed administratively by a permanent secretary.
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Full RFTUK Information & Evidence
24Ministerial departments
20Non-ministerial departments
44Departments in this directory
12Transparency areas per body
Understand the government structure
Departments set policy, administer public money and oversee hundreds of agencies and public bodies. Their legal status and accountability arrangements are not all the same.
20
Non-ministerial departments
Usually perform regulatory, prosecutorial, inspection, revenue or independent functions without direct ministerial leadership.
417
Agencies and public bodies
Executive agencies, regulators, arm's-length bodies, tribunals, public corporations and other organisations linked to departments.
Browse all public bodiesScope: this hub lists central UK ministerial and non-ministerial departments. Devolved government departments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should sit in separate devolved-government transparency sections.
Search every UK government department
Search by department, responsibility or type. Each department card opens official GOV.UK information and focused searches for key transparency records.
Government-wide transparency tools
Use these central sources to follow public money, contracts, ministers, statistics, consultations and Freedom of Information releases across government.
All departments and public bodies
The definitive GOV.UK organisation directory.
Open organisation directoryTransparency and FOI releases
Search data, corporate reports and Freedom of Information releases across government.
Search transparency releasesContracts Finder
Search central government and wider public-sector contract opportunities and awards.
Search contractsFind a tender
Higher-value UK public procurement notices and contract awards.
Search tendersGovernment spending data
Search departmental spending publications, accounts and expenditure records.
Search spending dataWhole of Government Accounts
Consolidated public-sector financial information produced by HM Treasury.
Open government accountsCurrent ministers
Official list of ministers and their departments.
View ministersMinisterial interests
Published declarations of relevant ministerial interests.
Open interests registerOfficial statistics
Search statistics from government departments and accredited producers.
Search statisticsGovernment consultations
Open and closed consultations, calls for evidence and policy proposals.
Search consultationsNational Audit Office
Independent value-for-money and financial audit reports on government activity.
Open NAOParliamentary committees
Committee inquiries, evidence, reports and government responses.
Search committeesDepartment transparency checklist
Every department should make these records easy to find, current and understandable.
Secretary of State, ministers and portfolios
Permanent Secretary and senior leadership
Departmental responsibilities and structure
Outcome Delivery Plan or business plan
Annual report and audited accounts
Budget, estimates and spending review settlements
Monthly spending, procurement and contracts
Senior pay, expenses, gifts and hospitality
FOI publication scheme and disclosure releases
Official statistics and performance indicators
Consultations and government responses
Complaints and escalation procedures
Boards, governance and meeting records
Arm's-length bodies and sponsorship arrangements
Internal audit, risk and assurance information
How public accountability should work
| Level | What to examine | Accountability route |
|---|---|---|
| Minister | Policy choices, legislation, priorities and statements | Parliament, questions, debates and select committees |
| Accounting Officer | Regularity, propriety, value for money and feasibility | Public Accounts Committee and National Audit Office |
| Department | Delivery, spending, contracts, statistics and complaints | FOI, internal complaints, Ombudsman and judicial review where applicable |
| Agency or arm's-length body | Operational performance, governance and use of public money | Departmental sponsor, regulator, inspectorate, Parliament or Ombudsman |
| Public | Published evidence, outcomes and service experience | Consultations, petitions, representatives, complaints and lawful scrutiny |
Independent public-information resource
Right First Time UK is independent and is not operated by, affiliated with or endorsed by the UK Government, any department, minister, agency or public body. This hub signposts official information and public accountability routes.
Department names, responsibilities, ministers, agencies and website structures can change. Verify important information on the linked official source. Inclusion does not imply criticism or endorsement.