Explainers
Our explainers cover key subjects relating to our work, setting out key facts and figures and answering the most important questions about government.
Explore our explainers
Public inquiries
There are 25 ongoing or announced inquiries. But what exactly is a public inquiry?
The Devolution Priority Programme (DPP)
Six areas in England have been selected for the Devolution Priority Programme, putting them on a ‘fast-track’ to mayoral devolution and LGR.
Intergovernmental relations
How do officials and ministers across the UK cooperate and resolve disputes?
What is local government reorganisation?
Unitarisation is a type of local government reorganisation that replaces separate county and district councils with a single tier of local authorities
How big is the Labour government’s majority?
There are 650 seats in parliament. At the general election, the government won 411 of them.
Rules for funding for political parties
How much funding do political parties receive?
How is election spending regulated in the UK?
Party campaign spending is regulated by the Electoral Commission.
Calling a general election
Elections have to be held no more than five years apart, but the timing of elections are otherwise determined by the prime minister.
Energy resilience
The Middle East crisis has put energy resilience back on the agenda.
Independent adviser on ministerial standards
We explore the role of the independent adviser on ministerial standards, who advises the prime minister on the ministerial code.