Page 53 - 6205

After the Prime Minister has formed his cabinet, he selects the rest
of his ministry. Most of these ministers are the political heads of
Government Departments and are members of one of the Houses.

III. Government Departments: Government departments are
responsible for implementing Government policy. Each department is
headed by two people: a political head who is usually the minister, and an
administrative head from the Civil Service, called a permanent secretary.
They are responsible for a permanent staff which is part of the Civil
Service. There are many such departments, for example the Home Office,
the Department of Education, the Ministry of Defence, etc. The most
important department is the Treasury, and the Prime Minister is usually its
political head. It is the Department which controls the economy of the
nation.
As well as government departments there are government agencies
formed to operate public services, e.g., the Post Office, British Rail, etc.
Most of these agencies are subject to the control of one of the government
departments.

Task 4. Discuss the text with the partner. Agree with him if he is right
or correct him if he is wrong. Use the following phrases.
Sure. It’s not so, I’m afraid.
That’s the thing. It’s a pity, I can’t agree.
Exactly so. That’s wrong.
Nothing wrong with that. No, it’s vice versa.
Perfectly correct. I’m of different opinion.

The House of Lords is called the upper house of Parliament, though
it has less power than the House of Commons.
The main function of the Lords is to review legislation passed by
the House of Commons. Although the Lords can amend bills, it rarely
changes their basic principles. The Lords also serves as the United
Kingdom’s highest court of appeals.
The House of Lords has about 1,170 members but only 25% of the
members attend most debates in the House of Lords.
This house is not elected assembly. Most of its members inherit
their seats.
49