Glossary
This section explains key parliamentary and government terms.
Attorney General’s Office
Abbreviation: AGO
The government legal office that supports the Attorney General and Solicitor General.
Cabinet Office
Abbreviation: CO
The government department that supports the Prime Minister, Cabinet and the effective running of government.
Department for Business and Trade
Abbreviation: DBT
The UK Government department responsible for business, trade, investment and economic growth policy.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Abbreviation: DCMS
The UK Government department responsible for culture, media, sport, tourism and parts of the creative economy.
Department for Education
Abbreviation: DfE
The UK Government department responsible for education, children’s services and skills policy in England.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Abbreviation: DESNZ
The UK Government department responsible for energy policy, energy security and net zero policy.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Abbreviation: Defra
The UK Government department responsible for the environment, farming, food, rural affairs and animal welfare.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Abbreviation: DSIT
The UK Government department responsible for science, research, innovation, technology and digital policy.
Department for Transport
Abbreviation: DfT
The UK Government department responsible for transport policy in England and reserved transport matters across the UK.
Department for Work and Pensions
Abbreviation: DWP
The UK Government department responsible for welfare, pensions and employment support.
Department of Health and Social Care
Abbreviation: DHSC
The UK Government department responsible for health and adult social care policy in England.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Abbreviation: FCDO
The UK Government department responsible for foreign affairs, diplomacy, development and overseas relations.
HM Treasury
Abbreviation: HMT
The UK Government department responsible for public finances, tax policy, spending and economic policy.
Home Office
Abbreviation: HO
The UK Government department responsible for immigration, policing, national security and public safety.
Ministry of Defence
Abbreviation: MoD
The UK Government department responsible for defence policy, the armed forces and national military security.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Abbreviation: MHCLG
The UK Government department responsible for housing, local government, communities and planning policy in England.
Ministry of Justice
Abbreviation: MoJ
The UK Government department responsible for courts, prisons, probation and justice policy in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland Office
Abbreviation: NIO
The UK Government department responsible for Northern Ireland matters that are reserved to the UK Government.
Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland
Abbreviation: Scotland Office
The UK Government department representing Scotland’s interests in the UK Government and reserved UK matters in Scotland.
Office of the Secretary of State for Wales
Abbreviation: Wales Office
The UK Government department representing Wales’s interests in the UK Government and reserved UK matters in Wales.
Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Abbreviation: No. 10
The office supporting the Prime Minister and issuing official statements from 10 Downing Street.