1
LIFE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
A Journey to Citizenship
From the Home Office 2nd EDITION
April 2007
Including Revision Questions and Answers
This is a Copy of chapters 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the
official publication for tests taken after April 2007
Licence Number C2007000332
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Life In The United Kingdom
Pass First Time!
Based on
‘Life In The United Kingdom A Journey to Citizenship’
From the Home Office Second Edition 2007
5
July 2007
Published by Lulu
©Crown copyright
Reproduced under licence C2007000332
©Copyright Questions & Answers Ian Wright
No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express permission of
the authors. Whilst every effort has been made to be accurate and informative, the
publisher accepts no responsibility for any exceptions, errors or omissions which
may appear in the text.
Further Support
Interactive practice tests in the same format as the real test are available from:-
lifetests@mail2question.com
These can be in download or CD form and a free sample is available on request.
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CONTENTS
Page
7 About this book
8 Chapter 2 – A Changing Society – migration to Britain
10 The changing role of women
11 Children, family and young people
17 Chapter 3 – The UK today
18 Ethnic diversity
20 Nations and regions of the UK
21 Religion
23 Patron saints and public holidays
24 Customs and traditions
25 Special days
29 Chapter 4 – How the United Kingdom is governed
30 The House of Commons
30 Elections
31 The Prime Minister and the Cabinet
32 The Opposition
35 Local government
40 The UK in Europe and the world
48 Chapter 5 – Everyday Needs
48 Housing
49 The local council
49 Tenants
50 Discrimination
55 Money and credit
71 Travel and transport
73 Drugs
73 Identity documents
76 Chapter 6 – Employment
78 Equal rights and discrimination
80 The workplace
81 Tax
83 Trade unions
…84 Unemployment
85 Working in Europe
86 Childcare
88 Working for yourself
88 Answers
103 About the Test
104 Find a Test centre
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About this book
The revision questions you will find printed within this text are based on the recommended
learning points that appear in the official publication.
The general level of questions is probably a little more detailed than you will find in the
actual test, but the idea is to confirm and motivate your learning as you read. It is much more
difficult to form your own answers than to choose answers in a multiple choice question – as
you will have to in the official test – so if you are confident with these revision questions, the
actual test should produce no surprises for you.
The following details do need to be learnt and memorized as they appear in the test quite
frequently:-
Population statistics of all countries in the UK
Ethnic population and distribution details
Patron saints and feast days for all countries in the UK
Details of holidays, and special days like Guy Fawkes Night and Valentine’s Day
Details of Parliament and how people are elected to become MPs
Emergency numbers
Dialects and languages of the UK
Finally, if you should have any queries or wish to leave feedback – either about this
publication, or your experience in the test centre, please email:
lifetests@mail2question.com
I hope you find this publication helpful and wish you good luck in your test!
Regards,
Ian Wright
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CHAPTER 2 A CHANGING SOCIETY
______________________________________________________________________
Migration to Britain
Many people living in Britain today have their origins in other countries. They can
trace their roots to regions throughout the world such as Europe, the Middle East,
Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. In the distant past, invaders came to Britain, seized
land and stayed. More recently, people come to Britain to find safety, jobs and a
better life.
Britain is proud of its tradition of offering safety to people who are escaping
persecution and hardship. For example, in the 16th and 18th centuries, Huguenots
(French Protestants) came to Britain to escape religious persecution in France. In
the mid-1840s there was a terrible famine in Ireland and many Irish people migrated
to Britain. Many Irish men became labourers and helped to build canals and railways
across Britain.
From 1880 to 1910, a large number of Jewish people came to Britain to escape
racist attacks (called ‘pogroms’) in what was then called the Russian Empire and
from the countries now called Poland, Ukraine and Belarus.
Migration since 1945
After the Second World War (1939-45), there was a huge task of rebuilding Britain.
There were not enough people to do the work, so the British government
encouraged workers from Ireland and other parts of Europe to come to the UK to
help with the reconstruction. In 1948, people from the West Indies were also invited
to come and work
During the 1950s, there was still a shortage of labour in the UK. The UK encouraged
immigration in the 1950s for economic reasons and many industries advertised for
workers from overseas. For example, centres were set up in the West Indies to
recruit people to drive buses. Textile and engineering firms from the north of England
and the Midlands sent agents to India and Pakistan to find workers. For about 25
years, people from the West Indies, India, Pakistan, and later Bangladesh, travelled
to work and settle in Britain.
The number of people migrating from these areas fell in the late 1960s because the
government passed new laws to restrict immigration to Britain, although immigrants
from ‘old’ Commonwealth countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada did
not have to face such strict controls. During this time, however, Britain did admit
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28,000 people of Indian origin who had been forced to leave Uganda - and 22,000
refugees from South East Asia.
In the 1980s the largest immigrant groups came from the United States, Australia,
South Africa, and New Zealand. In the early 1990s, groups of people from the former
Soviet Union came to Britain looking for a new and safer way of life. Since 1994
there has been a global rise in mass migration for both political and economic
reasons.
Revision Questions
1. Why have more people been coming to Britain recently?
2. Why did Protestant Hugenots come to Britain in the mid 1840s?
3. Which group of people came to Britain to escape ‘pogroms’?
4. In the mid -1840s, which country had a terrible famine which caused many
people to come to Britain?
5. Which immigrants traditionally became labourers and helped to build canals and
railways across Britain?
6. Between 1880 and1920 from which countries did a large number of Jewish
people come to Britain to escape racist attacks?
7. After the Second World War from which countries did the British government
encourage workers to come to Britain?
8. When were people from the West Indies also invited to come to Britain?
9. Was there still a shortage of labour in the 1950s?
10. To which countries did textile and engineering firms send agents
to find workers?
11. Where were centres set up to recruit people to drive buses?
12. When were new laws passed by the British government to
restrict immigration?
13. Which group of people did Britain allow to settle in the UK in the 1960s?
14. From where did the largest immigrant groups come in the
1980s?
15. From where did the largest immigrant groups come in the early 1990s?
16. Since 1994 why has there been a global rise in mass migration?
The changing role of women
In 19th-century Britain, families were usually large and in many poorer homes men,
women and children all contributed towards the family income. Although they made
an important economic contribution, women in Britain had fewer rights than men.
Until 1857, a married woman had no right to divorce her husband. Until 1882, when
a woman got married, her earnings, property and money automatically belonged to
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her husband.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, an increasing number of women
campaigned and demonstrated for greater rights and, in particular, the right to vote.
They became known as ‘Suffragettes’. These protests decreased during the First
World War because women joined in the war effort and therefore did a much greater
variety of work than they had before. When the First World War ended in 1918,
women over the age of 30 were only given the right to vote and to stand for election
to Parliament. It was not until 1928 that women won the right to vote at 21, at the
same age as men.
Despite these improvements, women still faced discrimination in the workplace. For
example, it was quite common for employers to ask women to leave their jobs when
they got married. Many jobs were closed to women and it was difficult for women to
enter universities. During the 1960s and 1970s there was increasing pressure from
women for equal rights. Parliament passed new laws giving women the right to equal
pay and prohibiting employers from discriminating against women because of their
sex. (see chapter 6).
Women in Britain today
Women in Britain today make up 51% of the population and 45% of the workforce.
These days girls leave school, on average, with better qualifications than boys and
there are now more women than men at university.
Employment opportunities for women are now much greater than they were in the
past. Although women continue to be employed in traditional female areas such as
healthcare, teaching, secretarial and retail work, there is strong evidence that
attitudes are changing, and women are now active in a much wider range of work
than before. Research shows that very few people today believe that women in
Britain should stay at home and not go out to work. Today, almost three-quarters of
women with schooI-age children are in paid work.
In most households, women continue to have the main responsibility for childcare
and housework. There is evidence that there is now greater equality in homes and
that more men are taking some responsibility for raising the family and doing
housework. Despite this progress, many people believe that more needs to be done
to achieve greater equality for women. There are still examples of discrimination
against women, particularly in the workplace, despite the laws that exist to prevent it.
Women still do not always have the same access to promotion and better-paid jobs.
The average hourly pay rate for women is 20% less than for men, and after leaving
university most women still earn less than men.
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Revision Questions
17. Why is 1857 an important year for women’s rights?
18. A woman’s earnings, property and money automatically belonged to her
husband until which year?
19. What are ‘Suffragettes’?
20. Why did women’s protests decrease during the First
World War?
21. When did the First World War end?
22. When were women finally given the right to vote and to stand for election in
Parliament?
23. Why is 1928 an important date for women’s rights?
24. What did employers quite often used to ask women to do when they got
married?
25. Immediately after 1928, was it easy for women to enter universities?
26. What was the result of increasing pressure from women for equal rights in the
1960s and 1970s?
27. What percentage of the population are women?
28. What percentage of the workforce are women?
29. Which group leaves school with, on average, the best qualifications: boys or
girls?
30. How many women with school age children are in paid work?
31. Can you give an examples of how discrimination still continues in the
workplace?
32. On average how much less is the hourly rate for women
compared to men?
Children, family and young people
In the UK, there are almost 15 million children and young people up to the age of 19.
This is almost one quarter of the UK population.
Over the last 20 years, family patterns in Britain have been transformed because of
changing attitudes towards divorce and separation. Today, 65% of children live with
both birth parents, almost 25% live in lone - parent families, and 10% live within a
stepfamily. Most children in Britain receive weekly pocket money from their parents
and many get extra money for doing jobs around the house.
Children in the UK do not play outside the home as much as they did in the past.
Part of the reason for this is increased home entertainment such as television,
videos and computers. There is also increased concern for children safety and there
are many stories in newspapers about child molestation by strangers, but there is no
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evidence that this kind of danger is increasing.
Young people have different identities, interests and fashions to older people. Many
young people move away from their family home when they become adults but this
varies from one community to another.
Education
The law states that children between the ages of 5 and 16 must attend school. The
tests that pupils take are very important and in England and Scotland children take
national tests in English,
mathematics and science when they are 7, 11and 14 years old. (In Wales, teachers
assess children’s progress when they are 7 and 11 and they take a national test at
the age of 14). The tests give important information about children’s progress and
achievement, the subjects they are doing well in and the areas where they need
extra help.
Most young people take the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), or,
in Scotland, Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) Standard Grade examinations
when they are 16. At 17 and 18, many take vocational qualifications, General
Certificates of Education attain Advanced level (AGCEs), AS level units or
Higher/Advanced Higher Grades in Scotland. Schools and colleges will expect good
GCSE or SQA Standard Grade results before allowing a student to enrol on an
AGCE or Scottish Higher/Advanced Higher course.
AS levels are Advanced Subsidiary qualifications gained by completing three AS
units. Three AS units are considered as one - half of an AGCE. In the second part of
the course, three more AS units can be studied to complete the AGCE qualification.
Many people refer to AGCEs by the old name of A levels. AGCEs are the traditional
route for entry to higher education courses, but many higher education students
enter with different kinds of qualifications.
One in three young people now go on to higher education at college or university.
Some young people defer their university entrance for a year and take a gap year.
This year out of education often includes voluntary work and travel overseas. Some
young people work to earn and save money to pay for their university fees and living
expenses.
People over 16 years of age may also choose to study at Colleges of Further
Education or Adult Education Centres. There is a wide range of academic and
vocational courses available as well as courses which develop leisure interests and
skills. Contact your local college for details.
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Revision Questions
33. How many young people up to the age of 19 are there in the UK?
34. What percentage of children live with both birth parents?
35. What percentage of children live in lone parent families?
36. What percentage of children live within a stepfamily?
37. What do parents give their children for doing jobs around the house?
38. Why don’t children pay outside as much as in the past?
39. Between what ages must children attend school?
40. In which subjects are the national tests that children take?
41. At what ages do children take national tests?
42. At what age do children take GCSEs – or in Scotland, SQAs?
43. At what age do children take vocational qualifications, AGCEs or
Scottish Higher/Advanced higher qualifications?
44. What proportion of young people now go on to higher education?
45. What is a gap year?
Work
It is common for young people to have a part - time job while they are still at school.
It is thought there are 2 million children at work at any one time. The most common
jobs are newspaper delivery and work in supermarkets and newsagents. Many
parents believe that part -time work helps children to become more independent as
well as providing them (and sometimes their families) with extra income.
There are laws about the age when children can take up paid work (usually not
before 14), the type of work they can do and the number of hours they can work (see
www.worksmart.org.uk for more information).
It is very important to note that there are concerns for the safety of children who
work illegally or who are not properly supervised and the employment of children is
strictly controlled by law.
Health hazards
Many parents worry that their children may misuse drugs and addictive substances.
Smoking:
Although cigarette smoking has fallen in the adult population, more young people
are smoking, and more girls smoke than boys. By law, it is illegal to sell tobacco
products to anyone under 16 years old. In some areas, smoking in public buildings
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and work environments is not allowed.
Alcohol
Young people under the age of 18 are not allowed to buy alcohol in Britain, but there
is concern about the age some young people start drinking alcohol and the amount
of alcohol they drink at one time, known as binge drinking. It is illegal to be drunk in
public and there are now more penalties to help control this problem, including on -
the - spot fines.
Illegal drugs:
As in most countries, it is illegal to possess drugs such as heroin, cocaine, ecstasy,
amphetamines and cannabis. Current statistics show that half of all young adults,
and about a third of the population as a whole, have used illegal drugs at one time or
another.
There is a strong link between the use of hard drugs (e.g. crack cocaine and heroin)
and crime, and also hard drugs and mental illness. The misuse of drugs has a huge
social and financial cost for the country. This is a serious issue and British society
needs to find an effective way of dealing with the problem.
Young people’s political and social attitudes
Young people in Britain can vote in elections from the age of 18.
In the 2001 general election, however only 1 in 5 first - time voters used their vote.
There has been a great debate over the reason for this. Some researchers think that
one reason is that young people are not interested in the political process.
Although most young people show little interest in party politics, there is strong
evidence that many are interested in specific political issues such as the
environment and cruelty to animals.
In 2003 a survey of young people in England and Wales showed that they believe
the five most important issues in Britain were crime, drugs, war/ terrorism, racism
and health. The same survey asked young people about their participation in political
and community events. They found that 86% of young people had taken part in
some form of community event over the past year, and 50% had taken part in fund -
raising or collecting money for charity. Similar results have been found in surveys in
Scotland and Northern Ireland. Many children first get involved in these activities
while at school where they study Citizenship as part of the National Curriculum
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Revision Questions
46. How many children are at work at any one time?
47. What are the most common jobs for children?
48. Why do parents think that part time work is good for children?
49. When can children usually start to do paid work?
50. Which group smokes the most – boys or girls?
51. At what age can young people legally buy tobacco products?
52. At what age can young people legally buy alcohol?
53. What is binge drinking?
54. What helps control the problem of people being drunk in public places?
55. What proportion of young adults have used illegal drugs?
56. What proportion of the population as a whole have tried illegal drugs?
57. What 2 things are linked to hard drugs?
58. At what age can young people vote in elections in the UK?
59. What proportion of young voters actually used their vote in the 2001 election?
60. Why do some researchers think that many young people don’t vote?
61. Which political issues are young people interested in?
62. In 2003, what 5 things were shown to be important issues in
Britain for young people?
63. What percentage of young people took part in political and
community events?
64. What percentage of young people had taken part in fund-raising
or collecting money for charity?
65. How do many young people first get involved in fund-raising or
collecting money for charity
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Chapter 3 UK TODAY: A PROFILE
__________________________________________________
Population
In 2005 the population of the United Kingdom was just under 60 million people.
______________________________________________________
UK population 2005 million
______________________________________________________
England (84% of the population) 50.1 million
Scotland (8% of the population) 5.1 million
Wales (5% of the population) 2.9 million
N. Ireland (3% of the population) 1.7 million
Total UK 59.8 million
______________________________________________________
Source: National Statistics
The population has grown by 7.7% since 1971, and growth has been faster in more
recent years. Although the general population in the UK has increased in the last 20
years, in some areas such as the North - East and North - West of England there
has been a decline.
Both the birth rate and the death rate are falling and as a result the UK now has an
ageing population. For instance, there are more people over 60 than children under
16. There is also a record number of people aged 85 and over.
The census
A census is a count of the whole population. It also collects statistics on topics such
as age, place of birth, occupation, ethnicity, housing, health, and marital status
A census has been taken every ten years since 1801, except during the Second
World War. The next census will take place in 2011.
During a census, a form is delivered to every household in the country. This form
asks for detailed information about each member of the household and must be
completed by law. The information remains confidential and anonymous; it can only
be released to the public after 100 years, when many people researching their family
history find it very useful. General census information is used to identify population
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trends and to help planning. More information about the census, the census form
and statistics from previous censuses can be found at www.statistics.gov.uk/census
Ethnic diversity
The UK population is ethnically diverse and is changing rapidly, especially in large
cities such as London, so it is not always easy to get an exact picture of the ethnic
origin of all the population from census statistics. Each of the four countries of the
UK (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) has different customs, attitudes
and histories.
People of Indian, Pakistani, Chinese, Black Caribbean, Black African, Bangladeshi
and mixed ethnic descent make up 8.3% of the UK population. Today about half the
members of these communities
were born in the United Kingdom.
There are also considerable numbers of people resident in the UK who are of Irish,
Italian, Greek and Turkish Cypriot, Polish, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and
American descent. Large numbers have also arrived since 2004 from the new East
European member states of the European Union. These groups are not identified
separately in the census statistics in the following table.
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UK population 2001 Million UK Population %
White
(including people of
European, Australian, American descent) 54.2 92
_____________________________________________________
Mixed 0.7 1.2
_____________________________________________________
Asian or Asian British
Indian 1.1 1.8
_____________________________________________________
Pakistani 0.7 1.3
_____________________________________________________
Bangladeshi 0.3 0.5
_____________________________________________________
Other Asian 0.2 0.4
_____________________________________________________
Black or Black British
Black Caribbean 0.6 1.0
______________________________________________________
Black African 0.5 0.8
______________________________________________________
Black other 0.1 0.2
______________________________________________________
Chinese 0.2 0.4
______________________________________________________
Other 0.2 0.4
______________________________________________________
Source: National Statistics from the 2001 census
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Where do the largest ethnic minority groups live?
The figures from the 2001 census show that most members of the large ethnic
minority groups in the UK live in England, where they make up 9% of the total
population. 45% of all ethnic minority people live in the London area, where they
form nearly one - third of the population (29%). Other areas of England with large
ethnic minority populations are the West Midlands, the South East, the North West,
and Yorkshire and Humberside.
Proportion of ethnic minority groups in the countries of the UK
___________________________________________________
England 9% Wales 2%
_______________________ ___________________________
Scotland 2% Northern Ireland less than 1%
___________________________________________________
The nations and regions of the UK
The UK is a medium-sized country. The longest distance on the mainland, from John
O’Groats on the north coast of Scotland to Lands End in the south-west corner of
England, is about 870 miles
(approximately 1,400 kilometres). Most of the population live in towns and cities.
There are many variations in culture and language in the different parts of the United
Kingdom. This is seen in differences in architecture, in some local customs, in types
of food, and especially in language. The English language has many accents and
dialects. These are a clear indication of regional differences in the UK. Well-known
dialects in England are Geordie (Tyneside), Scouse (Liverpool) and Cockney
(London). Many other languages in addition to English are spoken in the UK,
especially in multicultural cities.
In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, people speak different varieties and
dialects of English. In Wales, too, an increasing number of people speak Welsh,
which is taught in schools and universities.
In Scotland Gaelic is spoken in some parts of the Highlands and Islands and in
Northern Ireland a few people speak Irish Gaelic Some of the dialects of English
spoken in Scotland show the influence of the old Scottish language, Scots. One of
the dialects spoken in Northern Ireland is called Ulster Scots.
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Revision Questions
66. What is the population of the UK?
67. What is the population of Scotland?
68. What is the population of Wales?
69. What is the population of Northern Ireland?
70. What is a census?
71. How often does a national census take place?
72. When is the next census?
73. What is the population of England?
74. What is the largest ethnic minority in the UK?
75. How many people of Pakistani origin are there in the UK?
76. How many people of black Caribbean origin are there in the UK?
77. Where in the UK is the majority of ethnic groups?
78. What proportion of the UK population do ethnic groups make up
in Wales and Scotland?
79. What regional language is spoken in Wales?
80. What language is spoken in some parts of the Highlands and
Islands of Scotland?
81. What is the dialect sometimes spoken in Northern Ireland that is
influenced by the old Scottish language?
82. How much has the UK population grown since 1971?
83. Where in the UK has there been a decline in the population?
84. What is happening to the birth rate and death rate in the UK?
85. What is the distance from John O’Groats in Scotland to Lands
End in south west England?
86. What is a ‘clear indication of regional differences’ in the UK?
87. Where is the Geordie dialect found?
88. Where is the Scouse dialect found?
89. Where is the Cockney dialect found?
90. Where is the ‘Brummy’ dialect found? (not part of the text!)
Religion
Although the UK is historically a Christian society, everyone has the legal right to
practice the religion of their choice. In the 2001 census, just over 75% said they had
a religion: 7 out of 10 of these were Christians. There were also a considerable
number of people who followed other religions. Although many people in the UK said
they held religious belief, currently only around 10% of the population attend
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religious services. More people attend services in Scotland and Northern Ireland
than in England and Wales. In London the number of people who attend religious
services is increasing.
Religions in the UK %
Christian (10% of whom are Roman Catholic) …………… 71.6
Muslim …………………………………………… 2.7
Hindu …………………………………………… 1.0
Sikh …………………………………………… 0.6
Jewish …………………………………………… 0.5
Buddhist …………………………………………… 0.3
Other …………………………………………… 0.3
Total All …………………………………………… 77
No religion …………………………………………. 15.5
Not stated…………………………………………… 7.3
Source: National Statistics from the 2001 census
The Christian Churches
In England there is a constitutional link between church and state. The official church
of the state is the Church of England. The Church of England is called the Anglican
Church in other countries and the Episcopal Church in Scotland and in the USA. The
Church of England is a Protestant church and has existed since the Reformation in
the 1530s.
The king or queen (the monarch) is the head, or Supreme Governor, of the Church
of England. The monarch is not allowed to marry anyone who is not Protestant. The
spiritual leader of the Church of England is the Archbishop of Canterbury. The
monarch has the right to select the Archbishop and other senior church officials, but
usually the choice is made by the Prime Minister and a committee appointed by the
Church. Several Church of England bishops sit in the House of Lords (see chapter
4). In Scotland, the established church is the Presbyterian Church; its head is the
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Chief Moderator. There is no established church in Wales or in Northern Ireland.
Other Protestant Christian groups in the UK are Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists
and Quakers. 10% of Christians are Roman Catholic (40% in Northern Ireland).
Patron Saints
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have a national saint called a
patron saint. Each saint has a feast day. In the past these were celebrated as holy
days when many people had a day off work. Today these are not public holidays
except for 17 March in Northern Ireland.
Patron saints’ days
_____________________________________________________
St David’s day, Wales 1 March
_____________________________________________________
St Patrick’s day, Northern Ireland 17 March
_____________________________________________________
St George’s day, England 23 April
_____________________________________________________
St Andrew’s day, Scotland 30 November
_____________________________________________________
Public holidays
There are also four public holidays a year called Bank Holidays. These are of no
religious or national significance.
Revision Questions
91. What percentage of the UK population claims to be Christian?
92. What percentage of the population claims to have a religion?
93. What percentage of the population attends religious services?
94. What percentage of the population are Muslim?
95. What percentage of the population are Hindu?
96. What percentage of the population are Sikh?
97. What percentage of the population are Jewish?
98. What percentage of the population are Buddhist?
99. Who has the right to practice their religion in the UK?
100. What is the official church of the state?
101. What is another name for the Church of England?
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102. Who is the head of the Church of England?
103. What is the established church in Scotland?
104. What is the established church in Wales and Northern Ireland?
105. What is a Quaker?
106. What religion is the Church of England?
107. What percentage of the population claim to have no religion?
108. Can the monarch marry anyone who is not Protestant?
109. Who is the spiritual leader of the Church of England?
110. Who usually selects the Archbishop and other senior Church
officials?
111. What percentage of UK Christians is Roman Catholic?
Customs and traditions
Festivals
Throughout the year there are festivals of art, music and culture, such as the Notting
Hill Carnival in west London and the Edinburgh Festival. Customs and traditions
from various religions, such as Eid ul -Fitr (Muslim), Diwali (Hindu) and Hanukkah
(Jewish) are widely recognised in the UK. Children learn about these at school. The
main Christian festivals are Christmas and Easter. There are also celebrations of
non-religious traditions such as New Year.
The main Christian festivals
Christmas Day
25 December, celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a public
holiday. Many Christians go to church on Christmas Eve (24 December) or on
Christmas Day itself. Christmas is also usually celebrated by people who are not
Christian. People usually spend the day at home and eat a special meal, which often
includes turkey. They give each other gifts, send each other cards and decorate their
houses. Many people decorate a tree. Christmas is a special time for children. Very
young children believe that an old man, Father Christmas (or Santa Claus), brings
them presents during the night. He is always shown in pictures with a long white
beard, dressed in red. Boxing Day, 26 December is the day after Christmas. It is a
public holiday.
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Other festivals and traditions
New Year
1 January, is a public holiday. People usually celebrate on the night of 31 December.
In Scotland, 31 December is called Hogmanay and 2 January is also a public
holiday. In Scotland Hogmanay is a bigger holiday for some people than Christmas.
Valentine’s Day
14 February, is when lovers exchange cards and gifts. Sometimes people send
anonymous cards to someone they secretly admire.
April Fools Day
1 April, is a day when people play jokes on each other until midday. Often TV and
newspapers carry stories intended to deceive credulous viewers and readers.
Mother’s Day
The Sunday three weeks before Easter is a day when children send cards or buy
gifts for their mothers. Easter is also an important Christian festival.
Hallowe’en
31 October, is a very ancient festival. Young people will often dress up in frightening
costumes to play ’trick or treat’. Giving them sweets or chocolates might stop them
playing a trick on you. Sometimes
people carry lanterns made out of pumpkins with a candle inside.
Guy Fawkes Night
5 November, is an occasion when people in Great Britain set off fireworks at home
or in special displays. The origin of this celebration was an event in 1605, when a
group of Catholics led by Guy Fawkes failed in their plan to kill the Protestant king
with a bomb in the Houses of Parliament.
Remembrance Day
11 November, commemorates those who died fighting in World War 1, World War 2
and other wars.
Many people wear poppies (a red flower) in memory of those who died. At 11a.m.
there is a two - minute silence.
26
Sport
Sport of all kinds plays an important part in many people lives. Football, tennis, rugby
and cricket are very popular sports in the UK. There are no United Kingdom teams
for football and rugby. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their
own teams. Important sporting events include, the Grand National horse race, the
Football Association (FA) cup final (and equivalents in Northern Ireland, Scotland
and Wales), the Open golf championship and the Wimbledon tennis tournament.
Revision Questions
112. Who is the patron saint of Wales and on which date is the feast
day?
113. Who is the patron saint of Northern Ireland and on which date is
the feast day?
114. Who is the patron saint of England and on which date is the
feast day?
115. Who is the patron saint of Scotland and on which date is the
feast day?
116. What are the two main Christian festivals?
117. On what day is Christmas Day celebrated?
118. On what day is New Year celebrated?
119. On what day is Boxing Day celebrated?
120. On what day is Valentine’s Day celebrated?
121. On what day is April Fool’s Day celebrated?
122. On what day is Mother’s Day celebrated?
123. On what day is Hallowe’en celebrated?
124. On what day is Guy Fawke’s Night celebrated?
125. On what day is Remembrance Day?
126. What does Remembrance Day Commemorate?
127. What do children do on Mother’s Day?
128. What do people do on Hallowe’en?
129. In 1605, what kind of group led by Guy Fawkes, tried to kill the
Protestant King with a bomb in the Houses of Parliament?
130. What are the Hallowe’en lanterns traditionally made from?
131. What is Hogmanay?
132. What do people do on Valentine’s Day?
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133. What do people do on April 1st?
134. What does Christmas Day celebrate?
135. What kind of meat do people usually eat on Christmas Day?
136. What do many Christians do on Christmas Eve?
137. When is Christmas Eve?
138. When do people hold a 2 minute silence on Remembrance Day?
139. What are important national sporting events?
140. What is the basis for the main Christian festivals?
141. What important festivals from other religions are recognised and
explained to children in schools?
142. What is a Bank Holiday?
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29
Chapter 4 HOW THE UNITED KINGDOM IS GOVERNED
____________________________________________________
The British Constitution
As a constitutional democracy, the United Kingdom is governed by a wide range of
institutions, many of which provide checks on each others’ powers. Most of these
institutions are of long standing: they include the monarchy, Parliament (consisting of
the House of Commons and the House of Lords), the office of Prime Minister, the
Cabinet, the judiciary, the police, the civil service, and the institutions of local
government. More recently, devolved administrations have been set up for Scotland,
Wales and Northern Ireland. Together, these formal institutions, laws and
conventions form the British Constitution. Some people would argue that the roles of
other less formal institutions, such as the media and pressure groups, should also
be seen as part of the Constitution.
The British Constitution is not written down in any single document as are the
constitutions of many other countries. This is mainly because the United Kingdom
has never had a lasting revolution, like America or France, so our most important
institutions have been in existence for hundreds of years. Some people believe that
there should be a single document, but others believe that an unwritten constitution
allows more scope for institutions to adapt to meet changing circumstances and
public expectations.
The Monarchy
Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of State of the United Kingdom. She is also the
monarch or Head of State for many countries in the Commonwealth. The UK, like
Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden, has a constitutional
monarchy. This means that the king or queen does not rule the country, but appoints
the government which the people have chosen in democratic elections.
Although the queen or king can advise, warn and encourage the Prime Minister, the
decisions on government policies are made by the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The Queen has reigned since her father’s death in 1952. Prince Charles, the Prince
of Wale, her oldest son, is the heir to the throne. The Queen has important
ceremonial roles such as the opening of the new parliamentary session each year.
On this occasion the Queen makes a speech that summarises the government’s
policies for the year ahead.
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Government
The system of government in the United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy. The
UK is divided into 646 parliamentary constituencies and at least every five years
voters in each constituency elect their Member of Parliament (MP) in a general
election. All of the elected MPs form the House of Commons. Most MPs belong to a
political party and the party with the largest number of MPs forms the government.
The law that requires new elections to Parliament to be held at least every five years
is so fundamental that no government has sought to change it. A Bill to change it is
the only one to which the House of Lords must give its consent.
Some people argue that the power of Parliament is lessened because of the
obligation on the United Kingdom to accept the rules of the European Union and the
judgments of the European Court, but it was Parliament itself which created these
obligations.
The House of Commons
The House of Commons is the more important of the two chambers in Parliament
and its members are democratically elected. Nowadays the Prime Minister and
almost all the members of the Cabinet are members of the House of Commons. The
members of the House of Commons are called ‘Members of Parliament’ or MPs for
short. Each MP represents a parliamentary constituency, or area of the country:
there are 646 of these. MPs have a number of different responsibilities. They
represent everyone in their constituency, they help to create new laws, they
scrutinize and comment on what the government is doing, and they debate important
national issues.
Elections
There must be a general election to elect MPs at least every five years, though they
may be held sooner if the Prime Minister so decides. If an MP dies or resigns, there
will be another election, called a by-election, in his or her constituency. MPs are
elected through a system called ’first past the post’. In each constituency, the
candidate who gets the most votes is elected. The government is then formed by the
party which wins the majority of constituencies.
The Whips
The Whips are a small group of MPs appointed by their party leaders. They are
responsible for discipline in their party and making sure MPs attend the House of
31
Commons to vote. The Chief Whip often attends Cabinet or Shadow Cabinet
meetings and arranges the schedule of proceedings in the House of Commons with
the Speaker.
European parliamentary elections
Elections for the European Parliament are also held every five years. There are 78
seats for representatives from the UK in the European Parliament and elected
members are called Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). Elections to the
European Parliament use a system of proportional representation, whereby seats
are allocated to each party in proportion to the total votes it won.
The House of Lords
Members of the House of Lords, known as peers, are not elected and do not
represent a constituency. The role and membership of the House of Lords have
recently undergone big changes. Until 1958 all peers were either hereditary meaning
that their titles were inherited, senior judges, or bishops of the Church of England.
Since 1958 the Prime Minister has had the power to appoint peers just for their own
lifetime. These peers, known as Life Peers, have usually had a distinguished career
in politics, business, law or some other profession. This means that debates in the
House of Lords often draw on more specialist knowledge than is available to
members of the House of Commons. Life Peers are appointed by the Queen on the
advice of the Prime Minister but they include people nominated by the leaders of the
other main parties and by an independent Appointments Commission for non-party
peers.
In the last few years the hereditary peers have lost the automatic right to attend the
House of Lords, although they are allowed to elect a few of their number to
represent them.
While the House of Lords is usually the less important of the two chambers of
Parliament, it is more independent of the government. It can suggest amendments
or propose new laws, which are then discussed by the House of Commons. The
House of Lords can become very important if the majority of its members will not
agree to pass a law for which the House of Commons has voted. The House
of Commons has powers to overrule the House of Lords, but these are very rarely
used.
The Prime Minister
The Prime Minister (PM) is the leader of the political party in power. He or she
32
appoints the members of the Cabinet and has control over many important public
appointments. The official home of the Prime Minister is 10 Downing Street, in
central London, near the Houses of Parliament; he or she also has a country house
not far from London called Chequers. The Prime Minister can be changed if the MPs
in the governing party decide to do so, or if he or she wishes to resign. More usually,
the Prime Minister resigns when his or her party is defeated in a general election.
The Cabinet
The Prime Minister appoints about 20 senior MPs to become ministers in charge of
departments. These include the Chancellor of the Exchequer, responsible for the
economy, the Home Secretary, responsible for law, order and immigration, the
Foreign Secretary, responsible for Foreign Affairs, and ministers (called ‘Secretaries
of State’) for education, health and defence. The Lord Chancellor, who is the minister
responsible for legal affairs, is also a member of the Cabinet but sits in the House of
Lords rather than the House of Commons. Following legislation passed in 2005, it is
now possible for the Lord Chancellor to sit in the Commons. These ministers form
the Cabinet, a small committee which usually meets weekly and makes important
decisions about government policy which often then have to be debated or approved
by Parliament.
The Opposition
The second largest party in the House of Commons is called the Opposition. The
Leader of the Opposition is the person who hopes to become Prime Minister if his or
her party wins the next general election. The Leader of the Opposition leads his or
her party in pointing out the government’s failures and weaknesses; one important
opportunity to do this is at Prime Minister Questions which takes place every week
while Parliament is sitting. The Leader of the Opposition also appoints senior
Opposition MPs to lead the criticism of government ministers, and together they form
the Shadow Cabinet.
The Speaker
Debates in the House of Commons are chaired by the Speaker, the chief officer of
the House of Commons. The Speaker is politically neutral. He or she is an MP,
elected by fellow MPs to keep order during political debates and to make sure the
rules are followed. This includes making sure the Opposition has a guaranteed
amount of time to debate issues it chooses. The Speaker also represents Parliament
at ceremonial occasions.
33
The party system
Under the British system of parliamentary democracy, anyone can stand for election
as an MP but they are unlikely to win an election unless they have been nominated
to represent one of the major political parties. These are the Labour Party, the
Conservative Party, the Liberal Democrats, or one of the parties representing
Scottish, Welsh, or Northern Irish interests. There are just a few MPs who do
not represent any of the main political parties and are called ’independents’. The
main political parties actively seek members among ordinary voters to join their
debates, contribute to their costs, and help at elections for Parliament or for local
government; they have branches in most constituencies and they hold policy-making
conferences every year.
Pressure and lobby groups
Pressure and lobby groups are organisations that try to influence
government policy. They play a very important role in politics. There are many
pressure groups in the UK. They may represent economic interests (such as the
Confederation of British Industry, the Consumers’ Association, or the trade unions)
or views on particular subjects (e.g. Greenpeace or Liberty). The general public is
more likely to support pressure groups than join a political party.
The civil service
Civil servants are managers and administrators who carry out government policy.
They have to be politically neutral and professional, regardless of which political
party is in power. Although civil servants have to follow the policies of the elected
government, they can warn ministers if they think a policy is impractical or not in the
public interest. Before a general election takes place, top civil servants study the
Opposition party policies closely in case they need to be ready to serve a new
government with different aims and policies.
Devolved administration
In order to give people in Wales and Scotland more control of matters that directly
affect them, in 1997 the government began a programme of devolving power from
central government. Since 1999 there has been a Welsh Assembly, a Scottish
Parliament and, periodically, a Northern Ireland Assembly. Although policy and laws
governing defence, foreign affairs, taxation and social security all remain under
central UK government control, many other public services now come under the
control of the devolved administrations in Wales and Scotland.
34
Both the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly have been set up using forms of
proportional representation which ensures that each party gets a number of seats in
proportion to the number of votes they receive. Similarly, proportional representation
n is used in Northern Ireland in order to ensure ‘power sharing’ between the Unionist
majority (mainly Protestant) and the substantial (mainly Catholic) minority aligned to
Irish nationalist parties. A different form of proportional representation is used for
elections to the European Parliament.
The Welsh Assembly Government
The National Assembly for Wales, or Welsh Assembly Government (WAG), is
situated in Cardiff the capital city of Wales. It has 60 Assembly Members (AMs) and
elections are held every four years. Members can speak in either Welsh or English
and all its publications are in both languages. The Assembly has the power to make
decisions on important matters such as education policy, the environment, health
services, transport and local government, and to pass laws for Wales on these
matters within a statutory framework set out by the UK Parliament at Westminster.
The Parliament of Scotland
A long campaign in Scotland for more independence and democratic control led to
the formation in 1999 of the Parliament of Scotland, which sits in Edinburgh, the
capital city of Scotland.
There are 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), elected by a form of
proportional representation. This has led to the sharing of power in Scotland
between the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties. The Scottish Parliament can pass
legislation for Scotland on all matters that are not specifically reserved to the UK
Parliament.
The matters on which the Scottish Parliament can legislate include civil and criminal
law, health, education, planning and the raising of additional taxes.
The Northern Ireland Assembly
A Northern Ireland Parliament was established in 1922 when Ireland was divided,
but it was abolished in 1972 shortly after the Troubles broke out in 1969.
Soon after the end of the Troubles, the Northern Ireland Assembly was established
with a power-sharing agreement which distributes ministerial offices among the main
parties. The Assembly has 108 elected members known as MLAs (Members of the
Legislative Assembly). Decision - making powers devolved to Northern Ireland
include education, agriculture, the environment, health and social services in
35
Northern Ireland
The UK government kept the power to suspend the Northern Ireland Assembly if the
political leaders no longer agreed to work together or if the Assembly was not
working in the interests of the people of
Northern Ireland. This has happened several times and the Assembly is currently
suspended (2006). This means that the elected assembly members do not have
power to pass bills or make decisions.
Local government
Towns, cities and rural areas in the UK are governed by democratically elected
councils, often called local authorities. Some areas have both district and county
councils which have different functions, although most larger towns and cities will
have a single local authority. Many councils representing towns and cities appoint a
mayor who is the ceremonial leader of the council but in some towns a mayor is
appointed to be the effective leader of the administration. London has 33 local
authorities, with the Greater London Authority and the Mayor of London coordinating
policies across the capital.
Local authorities are required to provide ’mandatory services’ in their area.
These services include education, housing, social services, passenger transport, the
fire service, rubbish collection, planning, environmental health and libraries.
Most of the money for the local authority services comes from the government
through taxes. Only about 20% is funded locally through ‘council tax’ a local tax set
by councils to help pay for local services. It applies to all domestic properties,
including houses, bungalows, flats, maisonettes, mobile homes or houseboats,
whether owned or rented.
Local elections for councillors are held in May every year. Many candidates stand for
council election as members of a political party.
The judiciary
In the UK the laws made by Parliament are the highest authority. But often important
questions arise about how the laws are to be interpreted in particular cases. It is the
task of the judges (who are together called ‘the judiciary’) to interpret the law, and
the government may not interfere with their role. Often the actions of the government
are claimed to be illegal and, if the judges agree, then the government must either
change its policies or ask Parliament to change the law. This has become all the
more important in recent years, as the judges now have the task of applying the
36
Human Rights Act. If they find that a public body is not respecting a person’s human
rights, they may order that body to change its practices and to pay compensation, if
appropriate. If the judges believe that an Act of Parliament is incompatible with the
Human Rights Act, they cannot change it themselves but they can ask Parliament to
consider doing so.
Judges cannot, however, decide whether people are guilty or innocent of serious
crimes. When someone is accused of a serious crime, a jury will decide whether he
or she is innocent or guilty and, if guilty, the judge will decide on the penalty. For less
important crimes, a magistrate will decide on guilt and on any penalty.
The police
The police service is organized locally, with one police service for each county or
group of counties. The largest force is the Metropolitan Police, which serves London
and is based at New Scotland Yard. Northern Ireland as a whole is served by the
Police Service for Northern Ireland (PSNI). The police have ‘operational
independence’, which means that the government cannot instruct them on what to
do in any particular case. But the powers of the police are limited by the law and
their finances are controlled by the government and by police authorities made up of
councillors and magistrates. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (or, in
Northern Ireland, the Police Ombudsman) investigates serious complaints against
the police.
Non-departmental public bodies (quangos)
Non - departmental public bodies, also known as quangos, are independent
organisations that carry out functions on behalf of the public which it would be
inappropriate to place under the political control of a Cabinet minister. There are
many hundreds of these bodies, carrying out a wide variety of public duties.
Appointments to these bodies are usually made by ministers, but they must do so in
an open and fair way.
The role of the media
Proceedings in Parliament are broadcast on digital television and published in official
reports such as Hansard, which is available in large libraries and on the Internet:
www.parliament.uk. Most people, however, get information about political issues and
events from newspapers (often called the press), television and radio.
The UK has a free press, meaning that what is written in newspapers is free from
government control. Newspaper owners and editors hold strong political opinions
37
and run campaigns to try and influence government policy and public opinion. As a
result it is sometimes difficult to distinguish fact from opinion in newspaper coverage
By law, radio and television coverage of the political parties at election periods must
be balanced and so equal time has to be given to rival viewpoints. But broadcasters
are free to interview politicians in a tough and lively way.
Who can vote?
The United Kingdom has had a fully democratic system since 1928, when women
were allowed to vote at 21, the same age as men. The present voting age of 18 was
set in 1969, and (with a few exceptions such as convicted prisoners) all UK-born and
naturalised citizens have full civic rights, including the right to vote and do jury
service.
Citizens of the UK, the Commonwealth and the Irish Republic (if resident in the UK)
can vote in all public elections. Citizens of EU states who are resident in the UK can
vote in all elections except national parliamentary (general) elections.
In order to vote in a parliamentary, local or European election, you must have your
name on the register of electors, known as the electoral register. If you are eligible to
vote, you can register by contacting your local council election registration office. If
you don’t know what your local authority is, you can find out by telephoning the
Local Government Association (LGA) information line on: 020 7664 3131 between
9a.m. and 5p.m, Monday to Friday. You will have to tell them your postcode or your
full address and they will be able to give you the name of your local authority. You
can also get voter registration forms in English, Welsh and some other languages on
the Internet: www.electoralcommission.org.uk
The electoral register
The electoral register is updated every year in September or October. An electoral
registration form is sent to every household and it has to be completed and returned,
with the names of everyone who is resident in the household and eligible to vote on
15 October.
In Northern Ireland a different system operates. This is called individual registration
and all those entitled to vote must complete their own registration form. Once
registered, you can stay on the register provided your personal details do not
change. For more information telephone the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland on:-
028 9044 6688
By law, each local authority has to make its electoral register available for anyone to
38
look at although this now has to be supervised. The register is kept at each local
electoral registration office (or council office in England and Wales). It is also
possible to see the register at some public buildings such as libraries.
Standing for office
Most citizens of the United Kingdom, the Irish Republic or the Commonwealth aged
18 or over can stand for public office. There are some exceptions and these include
members of the armed forces, civil servants and people found guilty of certain
criminal offences. Members of the House of Lords may not stand for election to the
House of Commons but are eligible for all other public offices.
To become a local councillor, a candidate must have a local connection with the area
through work, being on the electoral register, or through renting or owning land or
property.
Contacting elected members
All elected members have a duty to serve and represent their constituents. You can
get contact details for all your representatives and their parties from your local
library. Assembly members, MSPs, MPs and MEPs are also listed in the phone book
and Yellow Pages. You can contact MPs by letter or phone at their constituency
office or their office in the House of Commons: The House of Commons,
Westminster, London SW1A OAA, or telephone: 020 7729 3000.Many Assembly
Members, MSPs, MPs and MEPs hold regular local ‘surgeries’. These are often
advertised in the local paper and constituents can go and talk about issues in
person. You can find out the name of your local MP and get in touch with them by
fax through the website: www.writetothem.com. This service is free.
How to visit Parliament and the Devolved Administrations
The public can listen to debates in the Palace of Westminster from public galleries in
both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. You can either write to your
local MP in advance to ask for tickets or you can queue on the day at the public
entrance. Entrance is free. Sometimes there are long queues for the House of
Commons and you may have to wait for at least one or two hours. It is usually easier
to get into the House of Lords. You can find further information on the UK Parliament
website: www.parliament.uk
In Northern Ireland, elected members, known as MLAs, meet in the Northern Ireland
Assembly at Stormont, in Belfast. The Northern Ireland Assembly is presently
suspended. There are two ways to arrange a visit to Stormont. You can either
39
contact the Education Service (details on the Northern Ireland Assembly website:
www.niassembly.gov.uk) or contact an MLA.
In Scotland, the elected members, called MSPs, meet in the Scottish Parliament at
Holyrood in Edinburgh (for more information see: www.scottish.parliament.uk). You
can get information, book tickets or arrange tours through the visitor services. You
can write to them at The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP, or telephone
0131 348 5200, or email sp.bookings@scottish.parliament.uk
In Wales, the elected members, known as AMs, meet in the Welsh Assembly in the
Senedd in Cardiff Bay (for more information see: www.wales.gov.uk). You can book
guided tours or seats in the public galleries for the Welsh Assembly. To make a
booking, telephone the Assembly booking line on 029 2089 8477 or email:
assembly.booking@wales.gsi.gov.uk
40
41
The UK in Europe and the world
The Commonwealth
The Commonwealth is an association of countries, most of which were once part of
the British Empire, though a few countries that were not in the Empire have also
joined it.
Commonwealth members
Antigua and Barbuda Mozambique Australia
Namibia The Bahamas Nauru*
Bangladesh New Zealand Barbados
Nigeria Belize Pakistan
Botswana, Papua New Guinea Cameroon
Brunei Darussalam St Kitts and Nevis St Lucia
Canada St Vincent and the
Grenadines Cyprus
Samoa Dominica Seychelles
Fiji Islands Sierra Leone The Gambia
Singapore Ghana Solomon Islands
Grenada South Africa Guyana
Sri Lanka India Swaziland
Jamaica Tonga Tuvalu
Kenya Trinidad and Tobago Kiribati
42
Commonwealth members (continued)
Lesotho Uganda Malawi
United Kingdom Malaysia Maldives
United Republic of Tanzania Vanuatu Malta
Zambia Mauritius
*Nauru is a Special Member
The Queen is the head of the Commonwealth, which currently has 53 member
states. Membership is voluntary and the Commonwealth has no power over its
members although it can suspend membership. The Commonwealth aims to
promote democracy, good government and to eradicate poverty.
The European Union (EU)
The European Union (EU), originally called the European Economic Community
(EEC), was set up by six Western European countries who signed the Treaty of
Rome on 25 March 1957. One of the main reasons for doing this was the belief that
co-operation between states would reduce the likelihood of another war in Europe.
Originally the UK decided not to join this group and only became part of the
European Union in 1973. In 2004 ten new member countries joined the EU, with a
further two in 2006 making a total of 27 member countries.
One of the main aims of the EU today is for member states to function as a single
market. Most of the countries of the EU have a shared currency, the euro, but the
UK has decided to retain its own currency unless the British people choose to accept
the euro in a referendum. Citizens of an EU member state have the right to travel to
and work in any EU country if they have a valid passport or identity card. This right
can be restricted on the grounds of public health, public order and public security.
The right to work is also sometimes restricted for citizens of countries that have
joined the EU recently.
The Council of the European Union (usually called the Council of Ministers) is
effectively the governing body of the EU. It is made up of government ministers from
each country in the EU and, together with the European Parliament is the legislative
body of the EU. The Council of Ministers passes EU law on the recommendations of
the European Commission and the European Parliament and takes the most
important decisions about how the EU is run. The European Commission is based in
Brussels, the capital city of Belgium. It is the civil service of the EU and drafts
43
proposals for new EU policies and laws and administers its funding programmes.
The European Parliament meets in Strasbourg, in north-eastern France, and in
Brussels. Each country elects members, called Members of the European
Parliament (MEPs), every five years. The European Parliament examines decisions
made by the European Council and the European Commission, and it has the power
to refuse agreement to European laws proposed by the commission and to check on
the spending of EU funds.
European Union law is legally binding in the UK and all the other member states.
European laws, called directives, regulations or framework decisions, have made a
lot of difference to people’s rights in the UK, particularly at work. For example, there
are EU directives about the procedures for making workers redundant and
regulations that limit the number of hours people can be made to work.
The Council of Europe
The Council of Europe was created in 1949 and the UK was one of the founder
members. Most of the countries of Europe are members. It has no power to make
laws but draws up conventions and charters which focus on human rights,
democracy, education, the environment, health and culture. The most important of
these is the European Convention on Human Rights; all member states are bound
by this Convention and a member state which persistently refuses to obey the
Convention may be expelled from the Council of Europe.
The United Nations (UN)
The UK is a member of the United Nations (UN), an international organisation to
which over 190 countries now belong. The UN was set up after the Second World
War and aims to prevent war and promote international peace and security. There
are 15 members on the UN Security Council, which recommends action by the UN
when there are international crises and threats to peace. The UK is one of the five
permanent members.
Three very important agreements produced by the UN are the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Although none of
these has the force of Law, they are widely used in political debate and legal cases
to reinforce the law and to assess the behaviour of countries.
44
Revision Questions
143. What is the British Constitution?
144. Does Britain have a written constitution?
145. Who is the head of state of the UK?
146. Who is the head of state for many Commonwealth countries?
147. What is a constitutional monarchy?
148. Who makes the decisions on government policies?
149. What is the function of the monarch in government?
150. How long has the Queen reigned?
151. Who is heir to the throne?
152. What does the Queen do at the opening of the new parliamentary session each
year?
153. How many parliamentary constituencies are there in Britain?
154. How often are MPs elected?
155. Where do the elected MPs have debates?
156. What is formed by the party with the largest number of MPs?
157. Which body would have to give consent if a government wanted to change the
law that elections be held at least every 5 years?
158. Parliament has to accept the rules of which higher government?
159. Which is the more important of the 2 chambers in Parliament?
160. What is the abbreviation of ‘Member of Parliament’?
161. What does an MP do?
162. What is a by-election?
163. What is the name of the election system where the candidate with the most
votes wins?
164. What are Whips and what do they do?
165. How often are elections for the European parliament held?
166. What is an MEP?
167. What system of voting is used in elections for the European Parliament?
168. What is proportional representation?
169. What is the name given to members of the House of Lords?
170. What is the function of the House of Lords?
171. When could the House of Lords become very important?
172. What is the PM?
173. Who appoints the Cabinet?
174. Where is the official home of the PM?
175. What is the name of the PM’s country house?
176. Apart from a general election, when can the PM be changed?
177. How many people make up the Cabinet?
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178. For what is the Chancellor of the Exchequer responsible?
179. What is the Home Secretary responsible for?
180. What is the Foreign secretary responsible for?
181. What is the Lord Chancellor responsible for?
182. Where can the Lord Chancellor sit?
183. How often does the cabinet meet?
184. What is the name for the second largest party in the House of Commons?
185. What does the leader of the Opposition do?
186. What is the Shadow cabinet?
187. What does the Speaker do?
188. How is the Speaker elected?
189. Who can stand to be an MP?
190. What are the major political parties in the UK?
191. How often are policy-making conferences held by political parties?
192. What are pressure and lobby groups?
193. What are civil servants?
194. What are the 2 characteristics of civil servants?
195. Why do top civil servants study the Opposition party’s policies
before a general election?
196. When did the government begin a programme of devolving
power from central government?
197. What form of voting in general elections takes place in the
Scottish Parliament, Northern Ireland and the Welsh Assembly?
198. Why is PR important in Northern Ireland?
199. Where is the Welsh Assembly situated?
200. How many members does the Welsh Assembly have?
201. Where is the Scottish Parliament?
202. How many members does the Scottish Parliament have?
203. What control does the Scottish Parliament have?
204. When was the Northern Ireland Parliament established?
205. When was the Northern Ireland Parliament abolished?
206. How many members does the Northern Ireland assembly have?
207. When can the UK government suspend the powers of the
Northern Ireland Assembly?
208. When was the Northern Ireland Assembly most recently suspended?
209. What is another name for council?
210. Who is the ceremonial leader of the council?
211. What services are councils required to provide?
212. What are mandatory services?
213. How much money for local authority services comes from ‘council tax’?
46
214. From where does most of the money for local services come?
215. What is council tax?
216. When are local elections for councillors held?
217. What is the ‘judiciary’?
218. Can judges change the law if it is not compatible with the Human
Rights Act?
219. With a serious crime who decides if a person is guilty or innocent
220. Who decides on the penalty in a serious crime case?
221. For less important crimes, who decides on guilt and any penalty?
222. How is the police service organised?
223. What is the largest police force?
224. For the police, what does operational independence mean?
225. How are the powers of the police limited?
226. What is another name for non-departmental public body?
227. How are proceedings in Parliament recorded?
228. What is ‘free press’?
229. What is the present voting age for general elections?
230. Where must you have your name if you want to vote?
231. When is the electoral register updated?
232. What must you have to be a candidate in local councillor
elections?
233. In government, what are surgeries?
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48
Chapter 5 EVERYDAY NEEDS
______________________________________________________
Housing
Buying a home
Two - thirds of people in the UK own their own home. Most other people rent
houses, flats or rooms.
Mortgages
People who buy their own home usually pay for it with a mortgage, a special loan
from a bank or building society. This loan is paid back, with interest over a long
period of time, usually 25 years. You can get information about mortgages from a
bank or building society. Some banks can also give information about Islamic
(Sharia) mortgages.
If you are having problems paying your mortgage repayments, you can get help and
advice. It is important to speak to your bank or building society as soon as you can.
Estate agents
If you wish to buy a home, usually the first place to start is an estate agent. In
Scotland the process is different and you should go first to a solicitor. Estate agents
represent the person selling their house or flat. They arrange for buyers to visit
homes that are for sale. There are estate agents in all towns and cities and they
usually have websites where they advertise the homes for sale. You can also find
details about homes for sale on the internet and in national and local newspapers.
Making an offer
In the UK, except in Scotland, when you find a home you wish to buy you have to
make an offer to the seller. You usually do this through an estate agent or solicitor.
Many people offer a lower price than the seller is asking. Your first offer must be
’subject to contract’ so that you can withdraw if there are reasons why you cannot
complete the purchase. In Scotland the seller sets a price and buyers make offers
over that amount. The agreement becomes legally binding earlier than it does
elsewhere in the UK.
Solicitor and surveyor
It is important that a solicitor helps you through the process of buying a house or flat.
49
When you make an offer on a property, the solicitor will carry out a number of legal
checks on the property, the seller and the local area. The solicitor will provide the
legal agreements necessary for you to buy the property. The bank or building society
that is providing you with your mortgage will also carry out checks on the house or
flat you wish to buy. These are done by a surveyor. The buyer does not usually see
the result of this survey, so the buyer often asks a second surveyor to check the
house as well. In Scotland the survey is carried out before an offer is made, to help
people decide how much they want to bid for the property.
Rented accommodation
It is possible to rent accommodation from the local authority (the council), from a
housing association or from private property owners called landlords.
The local authority
Most local authorities (or councils) provide housing. This is often called council
housing: In Northern Ireland social housing is provided by the Northern Ireland
Housing Executive (www.nihe.co.uk). In Scotland you can find information on social
housing at www.sfha.co.uk. Everyone is entitled to apply for council accommodation.
To apply you must put your name on the council register or list. This is available from
the housing department at the local authority. You are then assessed according to
your needs. This is done through a system of points. You get more points if you have
priority needs, for example, if you are homeless and have children or chronic ill
health.
It is important to note that in many areas of the UK there is a shortage of council
accommodation, and that some people have to wait a very long time for a house or
flat.
Housing associations
Housing associations are independent not-for-profit organisations which provide
housing for rent. In some areas they have taken over the administration of local
authority housing. They also run schemes
called ‘shared ownership’ which help people buy part of a house or flat if they cannot
afford to buy all of it at once. There are usually waiting lists for homes owned by
housing associations.
Privately rented accommodation
Many people rent houses or flats privately, from landlords. Information about private
accommodation can be found in local newspapers, notice boards, estate agents and
50
letting agents.
Tenancy agreement
When you rent a house or flat privately you sign a tenancy agreement, or lease. This
explains the conditions or ‘rules’ you must follow while renting the property. This
agreement must be checked very carefully to avoid problems later. The agreement
also contains a list of any furniture or fittings in the property. This is called an
inventory. Before you sign the agreement check the details and keep it safe during
your tenancy.
Deposit and rent
You will probably be asked to give the landlord a deposit at the beginning of your
tenancy. This is to cover the cost of any damage. It is usually equal to one month’s
rent. The landlord must return this money to you at the end of your tenancy, unless
you have caused damage to the property.
Your rent is fixed with your landlord at the beginning of the tenancy. The landlord
cannot raise the rent without your agreement. If you have a low income or are
unemployed you may be able to claim Housing Benefit to help you pay your rent.
Renewing and ending a tenancy
Your tenancy agreement will be for a fixed period of time, often six months. After this
time the tenancy can be ended or, if both tenant and landlord agree, renewed. If you
end the tenancy before the fixed time, you usually have to pay the rent for the
agreed full period of the tenancy.
A landlord cannot force a tenant to leave. If a landlord wishes a tenant to leave they
must follow the correct procedures. These vary according to the type of tenancy. It is
a criminal offence for a landlord to use threats or violence against a tenant or to
force them to leave without an order from court.
Discrimination
It is unlawful for a landlord to discriminate against someone looking for
accommodation because of their sex, race, nationality, or ethnic group, or because
they are disabled, unless the landlord or a close relative of the landlord is sharing
the accommodation.
51
Homelessness
If you are homeless you should go for help to the local authority (or, in Northern
Ireland, the Housing Executive). They have a legal duty to offer help and advice, but
will not offer you a place to live unless you have priority need and have a connection
with the area, such as work or family. You must also show that you have not made
yourself intentionally homeless.
Help
If you are homeless or have problems with your landlord, help can be found from the
following:

The housing department of the local authority will give advice on homelessness
and on Housing Benefit as well as deal with problems you may have in councilowned
property.

The Citizens Advice Bureau will give advice on all types of housing problems.
There may also be a housing advice centre in your neighbourhood.

Shelter is a housing charity which runs a 24-hour helpline on:
0808 800 4444, or visit www.shelternet.org.uk.

Help with the cost of moving and setting up home may be available from the
Social Fund. This is run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It
provides grant and loans such as the Community Care Grant for people setting
up home after being homeless or after they have been in prison or other
Institutions. Other loans are available for people who have had an emergency
such as flooding. Information about these is available at the Citizens Advice
bureau or Jobcentre Plus.
Services in and for the home
Water
Water is supplied to all homes in the UK. The charge for this is called the water
rates. When you move in to a new home (bought or rented), you should receive a
letter telling you the name of the company responsible for supplying your water. The
water rates may be paid in one payment (a lump sum) or in instalments, usually
monthly. If you receive Housing Benefit, you should check to see if this covers the
water rates. The cost of the water usually depends on the size of your property, but
some homes have a water meter which tells you exactly how much water you have
used. In Northern Ireland water is currently (2006) included in the domestic rates,
although this may change in future.
52
Electricity and gas
All properties in the UK have electricity supplied at 240 volts. Most homes also have
gas. When you move into a new home or leave an old one, you should make a note
of the electricity and gas meter readings. If you have an urgent problem with your
gas, electricity or water supply, you can ring a 24-hour helpline. This can be found on
your bill, in the Yellow Pages or in the phone book.
Gas and electricity suppliers
It is possible to choose between different gas and electricity suppliers. These have
different prices and different terms and conditions. Get advice before you sign a
contract with a new supplier. To find out which company supplies your gas,
telephone Transco on 0870 608 1524.
To find out which company supplies your electricity, telephone Energywatch on 0845
906 0708 or visit www.energywatch.org.uk. Energywatch can also give you advice
on changing your supplier of electricity or gas.
Telephone
Most homes already have a telephone line(called a land line). If you need a new line,
telephone BT on 150442, or contact a cable company. Many companies offer land
line, mobile telephone and broadband internet services. You can get advice about
prices or about changing your company from Ofcom at www.ofcom.org.uk. You can
call from public payphones using cash, pre-paid phone cards or credit or debit cards.
Calls made from hotels and hostels are usually more expensive. Dial 999 or 112 for
emergency calls for police, fire or ambulance service. These calls are free. Do not
use these numbers if it is not a real emergency; you can always find the local
numbers for these services in the phone book.
Bills
Information on how to pay for water, gas, electricity and the telephone is found on
the back of each bill. If you have a bank account you can pay your bills by standing
order or direct debit. Most companies operate a budget scheme which allows you to
pay a fixed sum every month. If you do not pay a bill, the service can be cutoff. To
get a service reconnected, you have to pay another charge.
Refuse collection
Refuse is also called waste, or rubbish. The local authority collects the waste
53
regularly, usually on the same day of each week. Waste must be put outside in a
particular place to get collected. In some parts of the country the waste is put into
plastic bags, in others it is put into bins with wheels. In many places you must
recycle your rubbish, separating paper, glass, metal or plastic from the other rubbish.
Large objects which you want to throw away, such as a bed, a wardrobe or a fridge,
need to be collected separately. Contact the local authority to arrange this. If you
have a business, such as a factory or a shop, you must make special arrangements
with the local authority for your waste to be collected. It is a criminal offence to dump
rubbish anywhere.
Council Tax
Local government services, such as education, police, roads, refuse collection and
libraries, are paid for partly by grants from the government and partly by Council Tax
(see chapter 4 - Local Government). In Northern Ireland there is a system of
domestic rates instead of the Council Tax. The amount of Council Tax you pay
depends on the size and value of your house or flat (dwelling). You must register to
pay Council Tax when you move into a new property, either as the owner or the
tenant. You can pay the tax in one payment, in two instalments, or in ten instalments
(from April to January).
If only one person lives in the flat or house, you get a 25% reduction on your Council
Tax. (This does not apply in Northern Ireland). You may also get a reduction if
someone in the property has a disability. People on a low income or who receive
benefits such as Income Support or Jobseeker’s Allowance can get Council Tax
Benefit. You can get advice on this from the local authority or the Citizens Advice
Bureau.
Buildings and household insurance
If you buy a home with a mortgage, you must insure the building against fire, theft
and accidental damage. The landlord should arrange insurance for rented buildings.
It is also wise to insure your possessions against theft or damage. There are many
companies that provide insurance.
Neighbours
If you live in rented accommodation, you will have a tenancy agreement. This
explains all the conditions of your tenancy. It will probably include information on
what to do if you have problems with your housing. Occasionally, there may be
problems with your neighbours. If you do have problems with your neighbours, they
can usually be solved by speaking to them first. If you cannot solve the problem,
54
speak to your landlord, local authority or housing association. Keep a record of the
problems in case you have to show exactly what the problems are and when they
started. Neighbours who cause a very serious nuisance may be taken to court and
can be evicted from their home.
There are several mediation organisations which help neighbours to solve their
disputes without having to go to court. Mediators talk to both sides and try to find a
solution acceptable to both. You can get details of mediation organisations from the
local authority, Citizens Advice, and Mediation UK on 01179046661 or visit:
www.mediationuk.co.uk.
Revision Questions
234. What proportion of people in the UK own their own home?
235. What is the name for a loan that pays for a property?
236. Where would you normally apply for a mortgage?
237. What is the usual period for repaying a mortgage?
238. Usually, where is the first place to start if you wish to buy a home?
239. Where can you find details about homes for sale?
240. How do you make an offer on a property?
241. Why should your offer be ‘subject to contract’?
242. What does a solicitor do?
243. What is the name of the person who carries out checks on the structure and
condition of the property?
244. When is the survey carried out in Scotland?
245. From whom can you rent property?
246. What is the name of someone who owns and rents property?
247. What is another name for local authority housing?
248. What must you do to apply for council housing?
249. What is a housing association?
250. What is another name for tenancy agreement?
251. What is the name of the document that lists furniture and fittings in a property?
252. Why must you give your landlord a deposit?
253. What can you do to help pay your rent if you are on a low income?
254. Can a landlord use threats or violence towards a tenant to force them to leave?
255. When can a landlord legally discriminate against someone looking for
accommodation on grounds of race, sex, nationalityor ethnic group?
256. Who is most likely to get council accommodation?
257. Where can you get help if you are homeless?
258. What is the Social Fund?
55
Money and credit
Bank notes in the UK come in denominations (values) of £5, £10, £20 and £50.
Northern Ireland and Scotland have their own bank notes which are valid
everywhere in the UK, though sometimes people may not realise this and may not
wish to accept them.
The euro
In January 2002 twelve European Union (EU) states adopted the euro as their
common currency. The UK government decided not to adopt the euro at that time,
and has said it will only do so if the British people vote for the euro in a referendum.
The euro does circulate to some extent in Northern Ireland, particularly in the towns
near the border with Ireland.
Foreign currency
You can get or change foreign currency at banks, building societies, large post
offices and exchange shops or bureaux de change. You might have to order some
currencies in advance. The exchange rates vary and you should check for the best
deal.
Banks and building societies
Most adults in the UK have a bank or building society account. Many large national
banks or building societies have branches in towns and cities throughout the UK. It
is worth checking the different types of account each one offers. Many employers
pay salaries directly into a bank or building society account. There are many banks
and building societies to choose from. To open an account you need to show
documents to prove your identity, such as a passport, immigration document or
driving licence. You also need to show something with your address on it like a
tenancy agreement or household bill. It is also possible to open bank accounts in
some supermarkets or on the internet.
Cash and debit cards
Cash cards allow you to use cash machines to withdraw money from your account.
For this you need a Personal Identification Number (PIN), which you must keep
secret. A debit card allows you to pay for things without using cash. You must have
enough money in your account to cover what you buy. If you lose your cash card or
debit card you must inform the bank immediately.
56
Credit and store cards
Credit cards can be used to buy things in shops, on the telephone and over the
internet. A store card is like a credit card but used only in a specific shop. Credit and
store cards do not draw money from your bank account but you will be sent a bill
every month. If you do not pay the total amount on the bill, you are charged interest.
Although credit and store cards are useful, the interest is usually very high and many
people fall into debt this way. If you lose your credit or store cards you must inform
the company immediately.
Credit and loans
People in the UK often borrow money from banks and other organisations to pay for
things like household goods, cars and holidays. This is more common in the UK than
in many other countries. You must be very sure of the terms and conditions when
you decide to take out a loan. You can get advice on loans from the Citizens Advice
Bureau if you are uncertain.
Being refused credit
Banks and other organisations use different information about you to make a
decision about a loan, such as your occupation, address, salary and previous credit
record. If you apply for a loan you might be refused. If this happens, you have the
right to ask the reason why.
Credit unions
Credit unions are financial co-operatives owned and controlled by their members.
The members pool their savings and then make loans from this pool. Interest rates
in credit unions are usually lower than banks and building societies. There are credit
unions in many cities and towns. To find the nearest credit union contact the
Association of British Credit Unions (ABCU) on: www.abcul.coop
Insurance
As well as insuring their property and possessions, many people insure their credit
cards and mobile phones. They also buy insurance when they travel abroad in case
they lose their luggage or need medical treatment. Insurance is compulsory if you
have a car or motorcycle. You can usually arrange insurance directly with an
insurance company, or you can use a broker who will help you get the best deal.
57
Social security
The UK has a system of social security which pays welfare benefits to people who
do not have enough money to live on. Benefits are usually available for the sick and
disabled, older people, the unemployed and those on low incomes. People who do
not have legal rights of residence (or ‘settlement’) in the UK cannot usually receive
benefits. Arrangements for paying and receiving benefits are complex because they
have to cover people in many different situations. Guides to benefits are available
from Jobcentre Plus offices, local libraries, post offices and the Citizens Advice
Bureau.
Revision Questions
259. What is the highest denomination bank note in the UK?
260. Are Scottish and Northern Irish bank notes valid everywhere in the UK?
261. How many European states adopted the euro in 2002?
262. When will the UK adopt the euro?
263. If you are working, why may it be useful to have a bank or building society
account?
264. What is a ‘PIN’?
265. What is a store card?
266 What should you do if you lose a credit or store card?
267. Why can credit cards be expensive?
268. According to the text, what can you do if your application for a loan is refused?
269. What is a credit union?
270. What is the name for payments of welfare benefits to people who do not have
enough money to live on?
Health
Healthcare in the UK is organised under the National Health Service (NHS). The
NHS began in 1948, and is one of the largest organisations in Europe. It provides all
residents with free healthcare and treatment.
Finding a doctor
Family doctors are called General Practitioners (GPs) and they work
in surgeries. GPs often work together in a group practice. This is sometimes called a
Primary Health Care Centre.
Your GP is responsible for organising the health treatment you receive. Treatment
can be for physical and mental illnesses. If you need to see a specialist, you must go
58
to your GP first. Your GP will then refer you to a specialist in a hospital. Your GP can
also refer you for specialist treatment if you have special needs.
You can get a list of local GPs from libraries, post offices, the tourist information
office, the Citizens Advice Bureau, the local Health Authority and from the following
websites:
www.nhs.uk/ for health practitioners in England;
www.wales.nhs.uk/directory.cfm for health practitioners in Wales;
www.n-i.nhs.uk for health practitioners in Northern Ireland;
www.show.scot.nhs.uk/findnearest/ health services in Scotland. You can also ask
neighbours and friends for the name of their local doctor.
You can attend a hospital without a GP’s letter only in the case of an emergency. If
you have an emergency you should go to the Accident and Emergency (A & E)
department of the nearest hospital.
Registering with a GP
You should look for a GP as soon as you move to a new area. You should not wait
until you are ill. The health centre, or surgery, will tell you what you need to do to
register. Usually you must have a medical card. If you do not have one, the GP’s
receptionist should give you a form to send to the local health authority. They will
then send you a medical card. Before you register you should check the surgery can
offer what you need. For example, you might need a woman GP or maternity
services. Sometimes GPs have many patients and are unable to accept new ones. If
you cannot find a GP, you can ask your local health authority to help you find one.
Using your doctor
All patients registering with a GP are entitled to a free health check. Appointments to
see the GP can be made by phone or in person. Sometimes you might have to wait
several days before you can see a doctor. If you need immediate medical attention
ask for an urgent appointment. You should go to the GP’s surgery a few minutes
before the appointment. If you cannot attend or do not need the appointment any
more, you must let the surgery know. The GP needs patients to answer all questions
as fully as possible in order to find out what is wrong. Everything you tell the GP is
completely confidential and cannot be passed on to anyone else without your
permission. If you do not understand something, ask for clarification. If you have
difficulties with English, bring someone who can help you, or ask the receptionist for
an interpreter. This must be done when you make the appointment. If you have
asked for an interpreter, it is important that you keep your appointment because this
59
service is expensive.
In exceptional circumstances, GPs can visit patients at home but they always give
priority to people who are unable to travel. If you call the GP outside normal working
hours, you will have to answer several questions about your situation. This is to
assess how serious your case is. You will then be told if a doctor can come to your
home. You might be advised to go to the nearest A & E department.
Charges
Treatment from the GP is free but you have to pay a charge for your medicines and
for certain services, such as vaccinations for travel abroad. If the GP decides you
need to take medicine you will be given a prescription. You must take this to a
pharmacy (chemist).
Prescriptions
Prescriptions are free for anyone who is:

under 16 years of age (under 25 in Wales)

under 19 and in full-time education

aged 60 or over

pregnant or with a baby under 12 months old

suffering from a specified medical condition

receiving Income Support, Jobseekers’ Allowance, Working
Families or Disabilities Tax Credit
Feeling unwell
If you or your child feels unwell you have the following options:
For information or advice

ask your local pharmacist (chemist). The pharmacy can give
advice on medicines and some illnesses and conditions that are not serious

speak to a nurse by phoning NHS Direct on 08454647

use the NHS Direct website, NHS Direct Online: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
To see a doctor or nurse

make an appointment to see your GP or a nurse working in the surgery

visit an NHS walk - in centre.
60
For urgent medical treatment

contact your GP

go to your nearest hospital with an Accident and Emergency department

call 999 for an ambulance. CaIls are free. ONLY use this service for a real
emergency

NHS Direct is a 24-hour telephone service which provide information on particular
health conditions. Telephone: 08454647. You may ask for an interpreter for advice
in your own language. In Scotland, NHS24 at:
www.nhs24.com, Telephone 08454 24 24 24.
NHS Direct Online is a website providing information about health services and
several medical conditions and treatments: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
NHS walk-in centres provide treatment for minor injuries and illnesses seven days a
week. You do not need an appointment. For details of your nearest centre call NHS
Direct or visit the NHS website at: www.nhs.uk (for Northern Ireland www.n-i.nhs.uk)
and click on ‘local NHS services’.
Going into hospital
If you need minor tests at a hospital, you will probably attend the Outpatients
department. If your treatment takes several hours, you will go into hospital as a day
patient. If you need to stay overnight, you will go into hospital as an in - patient.
You should take personal belongings with you, such as a towel, night clothes, things
for washing, and a dressing gown. You will receive all your meals while you are an in
- patient. If you need advice about going into hospital, contact Customer Services or
the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at the hospital where you will receive
treatment.
Dentists
You can get the name of a dentist by asking at the local library, at the Citizens
Advice Bureau and through NHS Direct. Most people have to pay for dental
treatment. Some dentists work for the NHS and some are private. NHS dentists
charge less than private dentists, but some dentists have two sets of charges, both
NHS and private. A dentist should explain your treatment and the charges before the
treatment begins.
Free dental treatment is available to:-

people under 18 (in Wales people under 25 and over 60)
61

pregnant women and women with babies under 12 months old

People on income support, Jobseekers’ Allowance or Pension Credit Guarantee
Opticians
Most people have to pay for sight tests and glasses, except children, people over 60,
people with certain eye conditions and people receiving certain benefits. In Scotland,
eye tests are free.
Pregnancy and care of young children
If you are pregnant you will receive regular ante-natal care. This is available from
your local hospital, local health centre or from special antenatal clinics. You will
receive support from a GP and from a midwife. Midwives work in hospitals or health
centres. Some GPs do not provide maternity services so you may wish to look for
another GP during your pregnancy. In the UK women usually have their babies in
hospital, especially if it is their first baby. It is common for the father to attend the
birth, but only if the mother wants him to be there.
A short time after you have your child, you will begin regular contact with a health
visitor. She or he is a qualified nurse and can advise you about caring for your baby.
The first visits will be in your home, but after that you might meet the health visitor at
a clinic. You can ask advice from your health visitor until your child is five years old.
In most towns and cities there are mother and toddler groups or playgroups for small
children. These often take place at local churches and community centres. You
might be able to send your child to a nursery school.
Information on pregnancy
You can get information on maternity and ante-natal services in your area from your
local health authority, a health visitor or your GP. The number of your health authority
will be in the phone book.
The Family Planning Association (FPA) gives advice on contraception and sexual
health. The FPA Helpline is 0845 3101334, or: www.fpa.org.uk. The National
Childbirth Trust gives information and support in pregnancy, childbirth and early
parenthood: www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com
Registering a birth
Your must register your baby with the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths
(Register Office) within six weeks of the birth. The address of your local Register
Office is in the phone book. If the parents are married, either the mother or father
62
can register the birth. If they are not married, only the mother can register the birth. If
the parents are not married but want both names on the child’s birth certificate, both
mother and father must be present when they register their baby.
Revision Questions
271. When did the NHS begin?
272. What is another name for family doctor?
273. Can you give three names for the place where a GP sees patients?
274. When can you attend hospital without a GP’s letter?
275. When should you look for a new GP?
276. When will GPs visit your home?
277. What does it cost to get treatment from a GP?
278. What is a prescription?
279. Who can get a free prescription?
280. What are the two emergency numbers for an ambulance, police or fire brigade?
281. What is NHS Direct?
282. What is the name for the department in the hospital that sees people for minor
tests?
283. Who does not have to pay for a sight test with an optician?
284. What is a midwife?
285. Where do women usually have their babies in the UK?
286. Can the father attend the birth in a hospital?
287. What is a health visitor?
288. How long can you ask advice from your health visitor?
289. Where do mother and toddler groups take place?
290. Where can you get information about maternity and ante natal services?
291. Where can you get advice about contraception and sexual health?
292. How long do you have to register a child’s birth?
293. If the parents are married, who can register the birth?
294. If the parents are unmarried, who can register the birth?
295. Who must be present when the birth is registered if the unmarried parents want
both their names to be given to the baby?
296. If you are feeling unwell, how can you get information or advice?
297. What can you do if you want to see a doctor or nurse?
298. What can you do if you need urgent medical treatment?
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Education
Going to school
Education in the UK is free and compulsory for all children between the ages of 5
and 16 (4 to 16 in Northern Ireland). The education system varies in England.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The child’s parent or guardian is responsible for making sure their child goes to
school, arrives on time and attends for the whole school year. If they do not do this,
the parent or guardian may be prosecuted.
Some areas of the country offer free nursery education for children over the age of
3. In most parts of the UK, compulsory education is divided into two stages, primary
and secondary. In some places there is a middle-school system. In England and
Wales the primary stage lasts from 5 to 11, in Scotland from 5 to 12 and in Northern
Ireland from 4 to 11. The secondary stage lasts until the age of 16. At that age young
people can choose to leave school or to continue with their education until they are
17or 18.
Details of local schools are available from your local education
authority office or website. The addresses and phone numbers of local education
authorities are in the phone book.
Primary schools
These are usually schools where both boys and girls learn together and are usually
close to a child’s home. Children tend to be with the same group and teacher all day.
Schools encourage parents to help their children with learning, particularly with
reading and writing.
Secondary schools
At age 11(12 in Scotland) children go to secondary school. This might normally be
the school nearest their home, but parents in England and Wales are allowed to
express a preference for a different school. In some areas, getting a secondary
school place in a preferred school can be difficult, and parents often apply to several
schools in order to make sure their child gets offered a place. In Northern Ireland
many schools select children through a test taken at the age of 11. If the preferred
school has enough places, the child will be offered a place. If there are not enough
places, children will be offered places according to the school’s admission
arrangements. Admission arrangements vary from area to area.
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Secondary schools are larger than primary schools. Most are mixed sex, although
there are single sex schools in some areas. Your local education authority will give
you information on schools in your area. It will also tell you which schools have
spaces and give you information about why some children will be given places when
only a few are available and why other children might not. It will also tell you how to
apply for a secondary school place.
Costs
Education at state schools in the UK is free, but parents have to pay for school
uniforms and sportswear. There are sometimes extra charges for music lessons and
for school outings. Parents on low incomes can get help with costs, and with the cost
of school meals. You can get advice on this from the local education authority or the
Citizens Advice Bureau.
Church and other faith schools
Some primary and secondary schools in the UK are linked to the Church of England
or the Roman Catholic Church. These are called ’faith schools’. In some areas there
are Muslim, Jewish and Sikh schools. In Northern Ireland, some schools are called
Integrated Schools. These schools aim to bring children of different religions
together. Information on faith schools is available from your local education authority.
Independent schools
Independent schools are private schools. They are not run or paid for by the state.
Independent secondary schools are also sometimes called public schools. There are
about 2,500 independent schools in the UK. About 8% of children go to these
schools. At independent schools parents must pay the full cost of their child’s
education. Some independent schools offer scholarships which pay some or all of
the costs of the child’s education.
The school curriculum
All state, primary and secondary schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
follow the National Curriculum. This covers English, mathematics, science, design
and technology, information and communication technology (ICT), history,
geography, modern foreign languages, art and design, music, physical education
(PE) and citizenship. In Wales, children learn Welsh.
In some primary schools in Wales, all the lessons are taught in Welsh. In Scotland,
pupils follow a broad curriculum informed by national guidance. Schools must, by
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law, provide religious education (RE) to all pupils. Parents are allowed to withdraw
their children from these lessons. RE lessons have a Christian basis but children
also learn about the other major religions.
Assessment
In England, the curriculum is divided into four stages, called Key Stages. After each
stage children are tested. They take Key Stage tests (also called SATs) at ages 7, 11
and 14. At 16 they usually take the General Certificates of Secondary Education
(GCSEs) in several subjects, although some schools also offer other qualifications.
At 18, young people who have stayed at school do AGCEs (Advanced GCE levels)
often just called A levels.
In Wales, schools follow the Welsh National Curriculum but have abolished national
tests for children at age 7 and 11. There are also plans in Wales to stop testing
children at 14. Teachers in Wales still have to assess and report on their pupils’
progress and achievements at 7 and 11.
In Scotland, the curriculum is divided into two phases. The first phase is from 5 to
14. There are six levels in this phase, levels A to F. There are no tests for whole
groups during this time. Teachers test individual children when they are ready. From
14 to 16, young people do Standard Grade. After 16 they can study at Intermediate,
Higher or Advanced level. In Scotland there will soon be a single curriculum for all
pupils from age 3 to age 18. This is called A Curriculum for Excellence. More
information can be found at
www.acurriculumforexcellencescotland.gov.uk.
Help with English
If your child’s main language is not English, the school may arrange for extra
language support from an EAL (English Additional Language) specialist teacher.
Careers education
All children get careers advice from the age of 14. Advice is also available from
Connexions, a national service for young people: telephone 0800 100 900 or:
www.connexions-.com in England. In Wales, Careers Wales offers advice to children
from the age of 11. For further information visit: www.careerswales.com or telephone
0800 100 900. In Scotland, Careers Scotland provides information, services and
support to all ages and stages. For further information visit
www.careers-scotland.org.uk or telephone 0845 8 502 502.
Parents and schools
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Many parents are involved with their child’s school. A number of places on a school
governing body are reserved for parents. The governing body decides how the
school is run and administered and produces reports on the progress of the school
from year to year. In Scotland, parents can be members of school boards or parent
councils.
Schools must be open 190 days a year. Term dates are decided by the governing
body or by the local education authority. Children must attend the whole school year.
Schools expect parents and guardians to inform them if their child is going to be
absent from school. All schools ask parents to sign a home-school agreement. This
is a list of things that both the school and the parent or guardian agree to do to
ensure a good education for the child. All parents receive a report every year on their
child’s progress. They also have the chance to go to the school to talk to their child’s
teachers.
Further education and adult education
At 16, young people can leave school or stay on to do A levels (Higher grades in
Scotland) in preparation for university. Some young people go to their local further
education (FE) college to improve their exam grades or to get new qualifications for
a career. Most courses are free up to the age of 19. Young people from families with
low incomes can get financial help with their studies when they leave school at 16.
This is called the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).Information about this is
available at your local college or at: www.dfes.gov.uk.
Further education colleges also offer courses to adults over the age of 18. These
include courses for people wishing to improve their skills in English. These courses
are called ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). There are also courses
for English speakers who need to improve their literacy and numeracy and for
people who need to learn new skills for employment ESOL courses are also
available in community centres and training centres. There is sometimes a waiting
list for ESOL courses because demand is high. In England and Wales, ESOL literacy
and numeracy courses are also called Skills for Life courses. You can get
information at your local college or local library or from Learndirect on 0800 100 900.
Many people join other adult education classes to learn a new skill or hobby and to
meet new people. Classes are very varied and range from sports to learning a
musical instrument or a new language.
Details are usually available from your local library, college or adult education centre.
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University
More young people go to university now than in the past. Many go after A levels (or
Higher grades in Scotland) at age 18 but it is also possible to go to university later in
life. At present most students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have to pay
towards the cost of their tuition fees and to pay for their living expenses. In Scotland
there are no tuition fees but after students finish university they pay back some of
the cost of their education in a payment called an endowment. At present,
universities can charge up to £3,000 per year for their tuition fees, but students do
not have to pay anything towards their fees before or during their studies. The
government pays their tuition fees and then charges for them when a student starts
working after university. Some families on low incomes receive help with their
children’s tuition fees. This is called a grant. The universities also give help, in the
form of bursaries. Most students get a low - interest student loan from a bank. This
pays for their living costs while they are at university. When a student finishes
university and starts working, he or she must pay back the loan.
Revision Questions
299. Is education for children expensive in the UK?
300. Is education in the UK compulsory?
301. Is the education system different in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland?
302. What can happen if the child’s parent does not make sure their child goes to
school, arrives on time and attends for the whole school year?
303. What are the two stages of compulsory education in most areas of the UK?
304. In education, between what ages is the Primary stage?
305. Until what age is the Secondary stage?
306. Until what age can children stay at school?
307. What are parents encouraged to do whilst their child is at Primary school?
308. What happens if the parents preferred secondary school does not have
enough places?
309. Where can you get information on the schools in your area, and
find out which schools have places?
310. What do parents have to pay for in state schools in the UK?
311. What help is there for parents on low incomes?
312. Where can you get advice on all aspects of education, schools and the costs?
313. What is a ‘faith’ school?
314. In Northern Ireland, what is an ‘integrated school’?
315. What is another name for independent school?
316. How many independent schools are there in the UK?
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317. What percentage of children go to independent schools?
318. Who pays the full cost of education in independent schools?
319. What is the National Curriculum?
320. What extra language do children learn in Welsh schools?
321. Is religious education compulsory?
322. When are children assessed in England?
323. What can be done if your child’s English is weak?
324. Do children receive careers advice at school?
325. What is a ‘governing body’?
326. Why do some people go to their local further education college at age 16?
327. What is EMA?
328. What kind of courses are available at further education colleges?
329. When do people usually go to university?
330. Is university free?
331. When do students repay their tuition fees for university education?
332. How do students pay for their living expenses while at university?
Leisure - Information
Information about theatre, cinema, music and exhibitions is found in local
newspapers, local libraries and tourist information offices. Many museums and art
galleries are free.
Film, video and DVD
Films in the UK have a system to show if they are suitable for children. This is called
the classification system. If a child is below the age of the classification, they should
not watch the film at a cinema or on DVD. All films receive a classification, as
follows:
U (Universal): suitable for anyone aged 4 years and over
PG (parental guidance): suitable for everyone but some parts of the
film might be unsuitable for children.
Their parents should decide.
12 or 12A: Children under 12 are not allowed to see or
rent the film unless they are with an adult
15: Children under 15 are not allowed to see or rent the film.
18: No one under 18 is allowed to see or rent the film.
R18: No one under 18 is allowed to see the film, which is only
available in specially licensed cinemas.
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Television and radio
Anyone in the UK with a television (TV), DVD or video recorder, computer or any
device which is used for watching or recording TV programmes must be covered by
a valid television licence. One licence covers all of the equipment at one address,
but people who rent different rooms in a shared house must each buy a separate
licence.
A colour TV licence currently costs £131.50 (2006) and lasts for 12 months. People
aged 75, or over can apply for a free TV licence. Blind people can claim a 50%
discount on their TV licence. You risk prosecution and a fine if you watch TV but are
not covered by a TV licence. There are many ways to buy a TV licence including
from local Pay Point outlets or on-line at: www.tvlicensing.co.uk. It is also possible to
pay for the licence in instalments. For more information telephone 0870 576 3763 or
write to TV Licensing, Bristol BS98 1TL
Sports, clubs and societies
Information about local clubs and societies can usually be found at local libraries or
through your local authority. For information about sports you should ask in the local
leisure centre, libraries and leisure centres often organise activities for children
during the school holidays.
Places of interest
The UK has a large network of public footpaths in the countryside. Many parts of the
countryside and places of interest are kept open by the National Trust. This is a
charity that works to preserve important buildings and countryside in the UK.
Information about National Trust buildings and areas open to the public is available
on: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Pubs and night clubs
Public houses, or pubs, are an important part of social life in the UK. To drink alcohol
in a pub you must be 18 or over. People under 18 are not allowed to buy alcohol in a
supermarket or in an off - licence either. The landlord of the pub may allow people of
14 to come into the pub but they are not allowed to drink. At 16, people can drink
wine or beer with a meal in a hotel or restaurant.
Pubs are usually open during the day and until 11p.m.If a pub wants to stay open
later, it must apply for a special lic