Non-ministerial government departmentNon-ministerial government departments, also called non-ministerial departments (NMDs), are a type of department of the United Kingdom government that deals with matters for which direct political oversight (and thus democratic accountability), through a minister of state forming part of the executive government, has been judged unnecessary or inappropriate. NMDs are typically headed by senior civil servants or subject matter experts.
Civil Service (United Kingdom)In the United Kingdom, the Civil Service is the permanent bureaucracy or secretariat of Crown employees which supports the UK Government, as well as the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. It is led by a cabinet of ministers of the UK Government chosen by the prime minister. As in other states that employ the Westminster political system, the Civil Service – often known by the metonym of Whitehall – forms an inseparable part of the British government.
Competition and Markets AuthorityThe Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is the principal competition regulator in the United Kingdom. It is a non-ministerial government department in the United Kingdom, responsible for promoting competitive markets and tackling unfair behaviour.
Government Legal DepartmentThe Government Legal Department (previously called the Treasury Solicitor's Department) is the largest in-house legal organisation in the United Kingdom's Government Legal Profession. The department is headed by the Treasury Solicitor (formally "The Solicitor for the affairs of His Majesty's Treasury"). This office goes back several centuries. The office was enshrined in law by the Treasury Solicitor Act 1876 (39 & 40 Vict.
Government Actuary's DepartmentThe Government Actuary's Department (GAD) is a non-ministerial department in the UK Civil Service that provides actuarial advice and analysis for the UK government and other public sector bodies. Established in 1919, it works with government departments, devolved administrations and local authorities on long-term financial risks and policy issues. The department is headed by the Government Actuary.
Crown Prosecution ServiceThe Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is the principal public agency for conducting criminal prosecutions in England and Wales. It is headed by the Director of Public Prosecutions.Food Standards AgencyThe Food Standards Agency is a non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for protecting public health in relation to food in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is led by a board appointed to act in the public interest. Its headquarters are in London, with offices in Birmingham, York, Cardiff and Belfast. Its counterpart in Scotland is Food Standards Scotland.
Government of the United KingdomThe government of the United Kingdom, formally His Majesty's Government and also officially the UK Government, is the central executive authority of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The government is led by the prime minister (Andy Burnham since 20 July 2026) who advises the monarch on the appointment of all the other ministers. The government is currently formed by the Labour party, which has had a majority in the House of Commons since 2024.
Forestry CommissionThe Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for the management of publicly owned forests and the regulation of both public and private forestry in England. The Forestry Commission was previously also responsible for forestry in Wales and Scotland.Charity Commission for England and WalesThe Charity Commission for England and Wales (Welsh: Comisiwn Elusennau Cymru a Lloegr) is the statutory regulator of registered charities in England and Wales. It maintains the public register of charities and oversees compliance with charity law. The Commission is a non-ministerial department of His Majesty's Government that regulates registered charities in England and Wales and maintains the Central Register of Charities.
HM Land RegistryHis Majesty's Land Registry is a non-ministerial department of His Majesty's Government, created in 1862 to register the ownership of land and property in England and Wales. It reports to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The land register contains information on 87% (by area) of the freehold land in England and Wales as of 2019. While HM Land Registry reports to MHCLG, it is operationally independent.
HM Revenue and CustomsHis Majesty's Revenue and Customs (commonly known as HMRC) is a department of the UK government responsible for the collection of taxes, the payment of some forms of state support, the administration of other regulatory regimes including the national minimum wage, and the issuance of national insurance numbers. HMRC was formed by the merger of the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise, which took effect on 18 April 2005.
Civil Service (United Kingdom)In the United Kingdom, the Civil Service is the permanent bureaucracy or secretariat of Crown employees which supports the UK Government, as well as the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. It is led by a cabinet of ministers of the UK Government chosen by the prime minister. As in other states that employ the Westminster political system, the Civil Service – often known by the metonym of Whitehall – forms an inseparable part of the British government.Competition and Markets AuthorityThe Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is the principal competition regulator in the United Kingdom. It is a non-ministerial government department in the United Kingdom, responsible for promoting competitive markets and tackling unfair behaviour.Government Legal DepartmentThe Government Legal Department (previously called the Treasury Solicitor's Department) is the largest in-house legal organisation in the United Kingdom's Government Legal Profession. The department is headed by the Treasury Solicitor (formally "The Solicitor for the affairs of His Majesty's Treasury"). This office goes back several centuries. The office was enshrined in law by the Treasury Solicitor Act 1876 (39 & 40 Vict.Government Actuary's DepartmentThe Government Actuary's Department (GAD) is a non-ministerial department in the UK Civil Service that provides actuarial advice and analysis for the UK government and other public sector bodies. Established in 1919, it works with government departments, devolved administrations and local authorities on long-term financial risks and policy issues. The department is headed by the Government Actuary.Crown Prosecution ServiceThe Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is the principal public agency for conducting criminal prosecutions in England and Wales. It is headed by the Director of Public Prosecutions.Food Standards AgencyThe Food Standards Agency is a non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for protecting public health in relation to food in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is led by a board appointed to act in the public interest. Its headquarters are in London, with offices in Birmingham, York, Cardiff and Belfast. Its counterpart in Scotland is Food Standards Scotland.Government of the United KingdomThe government of the United Kingdom, formally His Majesty's Government and also officially the UK Government, is the central executive authority of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The government is led by the prime minister (Andy Burnham since 20 July 2026) who advises the monarch on the appointment of all the other ministers. The government is currently formed by the Labour party, which has had a majority in the House of Commons since 2024.Forestry CommissionThe Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for the management of publicly owned forests and the regulation of both public and private forestry in England. The Forestry Commission was previously also responsible for forestry in Wales and Scotland.Charity Commission for England and WalesThe Charity Commission for England and Wales (Welsh: Comisiwn Elusennau Cymru a Lloegr) is the statutory regulator of registered charities in England and Wales. It maintains the public register of charities and oversees compliance with charity law. The Commission is a non-ministerial department of His Majesty's Government that regulates registered charities in England and Wales and maintains the Central Register of Charities.HM Land RegistryHis Majesty's Land Registry is a non-ministerial department of His Majesty's Government, created in 1862 to register the ownership of land and property in England and Wales. It reports to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The land register contains information on 87% (by area) of the freehold land in England and Wales as of 2019. While HM Land Registry reports to MHCLG, it is operationally independent.HM Revenue and CustomsHis Majesty's Revenue and Customs (commonly known as HMRC) is a department of the UK government responsible for the collection of taxes, the payment of some forms of state support, the administration of other regulatory regimes including the national minimum wage, and the issuance of national insurance numbers. HMRC was formed by the merger of the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise, which took effect on 18 April 2005.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.