A Tour of UK Public Services

The UK's public services include the National Health Service, state schools and universities, the welfare system that pays pensions and benefits, social services for vulnerable adults and children, the police, the fire and rescue services, and the courts. Most are funded from general taxation; some, such as the BBC, are funded from a separate licence fee.

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Responsibility is split between central government (which sets policy and funds most of the cost), the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (which run the NHS, schools and many other services in their territories), and local councils (which run schools, social care, libraries and refuse collection in their areas).

You may be asked which body runs the NHS in Scotland (the Scottish Government), or who is responsible for refuse collection (the local council).

Test yourself on this topic

These questions from the official-format question bank cover the same material. Tap any question to see the correct answer and a short explanation.

1. What do the National Insurance Contributions fund?
2. Which TWO major welfare changes were introduced between 1945 and 1950?
3. Which of these were introduced before the First World War in 1914?
4. From 1945 to 1950 the major welfare changes introduced were:
5. What did the Beveridge Report of 1942, by William Beveridge, provide the basis for?
6. Which TWO were introduced before the First World War (1914)?

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